This is a stunning circa 1890-1910’s Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Rug from a private Montana collection ex-Hindman / Cowan’s. The rug exhibits a classic geometric pattern showing three rows of stacked triangles tightly woven with handspun natural wool in colors of browns, cream, and red, the pattern radiating from the center and framed in a cream and brown outer border. 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. Provenance: From a private Montana collection and ex-Hindman / Cowan’s. The rug shows a tight, heavy weave with beautiful handspun wool and coloring. Various Navajo lazy lines can be seen in the weave. The rug shows little to no weave wear, nice edges and no major damages with rich color and NO A/B sides (even color on both sides). There is a small amount of soiling seen in the center cream and very little bleed of the red seen from one triangle in the bottom corner. Measures overall 62-inches by 44-inches.