Navajo Childs Blanket
Vintage 1910s American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century American Navajo Rugs
Wool
Early 20th Century American Taxidermy
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Antique 1890s American Navajo Native American Objects
Wool
Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Wool
1920s American Impressionist Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 1870s American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
Early 20th Century American Decorative Baskets
Ash
Antique 18th Century Indian Blanket Chests
Hardwood
Antique 1890s American Native American Quilts and Blankets
Wool
Early 20th Century American Navajo Tapestries
Yarn
Antique Late 19th Century American Tribal Native American Objects
Wool
Antique Late 19th Century American North and South American Rugs
Wool
Antique 19th Century Uzbek Quilts and Blankets
Antique 1890s American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
Early 20th Century American North and South American Rugs
Wool, Cotton
Antique Late 19th Century American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century Navajo Native American Objects
Antique 19th Century American North and South American Rugs
Antique 19th Century American Navajo Native American Objects
Wool
Early 20th Century American Navajo Native American Objects
Wool
Antique 1890s American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
Antique Late 19th Century American Navajo North and South American Rugs
Wool
Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects
Wool
A Close Look at native-american Furniture
Native American broadly describes any Indigenous people in North America and encompasses hundreds of tribes and groups, all with distinct cultures. Native American–style furniture and decor likewise varies widely, from pieces created by Indigenous people to those appropriated by non-native designers.
Indigenous furniture’s rich heritage includes the bentwood boxes of the Northwest Coast carved from cedar for storing household or ceremonial objects. Generations of Native American people have made baskets for holding household items, with those in the Northeast using sweetgrass and those in the Southeast using pine needles and wicker. Artisans in the Plateau region wove watertight pieces like cradles from plant materials. Although these objects were intricately made, they were usually utilitarian rather than decorative.
The colonization of North America and the removal of Indigenous people from their lands led to the suppression of these practices. Many styles that used Native American motifs — such as Southwestern style, which was heavily influenced by the geometric patterns of Navajo textiles — have historically not involved Indigenous creators and, instead, have taken their traditions without their tribal context.
When decorating a home with Native American–style furniture, it is important to do so respectfully, by understanding the origins of motifs and objects and examining who profits from their sale. There are now Indigenous-led companies, such as Cherokee designer Cray Bauxmont-Flynn’s Amatoya and Totem House Design, promoting Indigenous work in furniture and home decor. Supporting Indigenous artists and artisans is essential to confronting the still pervasive issue of cultural appropriation in design.
Find a collection of Native American living room furniture, folk art, rugs and carpets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right folk-art for You
Folk art refers to a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Vintage, new and antique folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, portraiture and paintings, carnival art, quilts and duck decoys.
American folk art is frequently valued because of the traditional skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of folk art on 1stDibs.
- What is a Navajo blanket called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Navajo blankets are also known as “chief’s blankets”. They were referred to as such because in the days of trading, the blankets were so expensive that only the chiefs could afford them. You’ll find a variety of chief blankets from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021Navajo blankets are worth so much because they're extremely rare; only 50 of these first-phase blankets, which Ute Indians made until roughly 1865, survive today.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To tell if a Navajo blanket or rug is real, examine the ends. On an authentic rug or blanket, the weaving is continuous. If the ends of the yarns appear tucked in, the item is not continuous and unlikely to be authentic. Find a range of expertly vetted Navajo blankets and rugs on 1stDibs.