Antique Navajo Banded Geometric Rug

A very attractive antique Navajo handwoven rug featuring a wonderfully simple and graphic banded geometric composition. The design is organized into four broad ivory horizontal panels, each decorated with a repeating row of bold serrated diamond motifs. The diamonds are rendered primarily in soft brick and coral red surrounding warm tan centers. Their stepped, saw-tooth outlines create a strong rhythmic pattern across the otherwise spacious ivory ground. Separating the geometric panels are groups of narrow horizontal stripes in soft red, rose, muted brown, camel, tan and gray, giving the weaving a beautifully balanced striped-and-diamond composition. What I particularly like about this rug is its soft, mellow coloration. Rather than the strong saturated colors found in many later Navajo rugs, this piece has an understated palette of warm ivory, faded coral and brick red, camel, soft brown and gray. The slight tonal variations throughout the yarn give it considerable character.