North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Early October American Indian & Western Sale

Sat, Oct 3, 2020 11:00AM EDT
Lot 41

Navajo Crystal Eye Dazzler Trading Post Rug c.1950

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
This is a fine large tight hand woven all wool and natural dyed rug from the Navajo Native American Indians in a scarce Crystal Eye Dazzler pattern. The rug dates to the circa 1950’s and shows a very attractive Crystal pattern with Eye Dazzler detail showing well preserved good condition. Originally the Old Crystal trading post was established in 1894, in a 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. This rug shows a nice tight weave with soft wool having a cream / white background with stepped zig-zag diamonds of black / brown, red, yellow and grey connected at the center in with additional smaller diamonds in a slightly hourglass design totaling of eight diamond storm like stepped central medallions. The outside shows a single red border. The rug shows all-natural dyes which is shown in the heathering and variation in color, a true artform. The rug measures 70 inches long by 50 inches wide (with additional 2.5-inch-long corner tassels). Truly a fantastic authentic Navajo rug in well preserved condition with little loss to the weave and very slight staining from age.