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Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Dazzler Rug c 1930

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 2,200.00 USD
Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Dazzler Rug c 1930
Featured in this lot is this Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post dazzler rug circa 1930's. The rug features a wonderfully and professionally crafted wool construction that features a classic Old Crystal Trading Post design with a stepped decoration that shows coloration of medium red, dark brown, heathered grey and off white that shows a border of medium red. 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 thread count of this rug is 35 threads per square inch. The condition of this Navajo Old Crystal Dazzler rug is good with some wear to the edges of the rug but otherwise shows good overall condition. The measurements of this rug are 67 1/2" x 36". Provenance: From the renowned Sundog Fine Art Bozeman, Montana collection and collected by Bruce VanLandingham. Bruce VanLandingham was a pillar in the American Indian collecting community and a respected expert. Along with being an avid collector, Bruce also was the sole owner of Sundog Fine Art Gallery in Bozeman, which was both part museum and gallery.