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C. 1900- Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Rug

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
C. 1900- Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Rug
Featured in this lot is this Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post circa 1900's. The rug features a wonderfully and professionally crafted wool construction that features central stepped diamonds with triangular decoration around the outside border of the field area and includes colors of dark brown, cream, medium red, heathered grey and a lighter brown. Originally the Old Crystal trading post was established in 1894, in this remote part of the Navajo Reservation Southwest of Two Grey Hills and Northwest of Gallup. In 1896 J.B. Moore purchased an interest in the trading post and re-named it Crystal after a pure sparkling mountain spring that was in the area. Due to the remoteness of the Trading Post he started using a mail order catalog to sell his rugs to the Eastern market. The first catalog came out in 1903, with another in 1911. He left the reservation in 1911. During his stay at Crystal he greatly influenced the change in styles of Navajo rugs being produced at the Crystal Trading Post. The rugs had an Oriental motif with multiple borders, large central medallions and numerous hooks. The condition of this rug is fair with some wear to to outside edges of the rug and shows some fading to the naturally dyed colored areas of the rug but otherwise shows good overall condition. The measurements of this rug are 56" x 32".