Featured in this lot is this Navajo Old Crystal Trading Post Germantown rug circa 1940's. The rug features a wonderfully and professionally woven wool construction that features beautiful Germantown decoration of geometric patterns in the center of the bordered rug with crystal decorating the border with colors such as light brown, brown, salmon pink, and off white all set to a light brown field. 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. J.B. Moore realized the rugs being woven on the reservation needed to be upgraded. He started paying more for the rugs with better workmanship and design. This caused the weavers in the area to produce better quality rugs. 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 condition of this rug is good with no obvious signs of damage and in good overall condition. The measurements of this rug are 63" x 38 1/2" and the thread count per square inch is 84.