Rich reds are what come to
mind when considering “Ganado Red” weavings, a classic
Navajo rug style popularized by trader John Lorenzo Hubbell.
Named for the small Navajo community of Ganado where in 1878
Hubbell founded his first trading post, this style of Navajo
rug has become one of the most popular and enduring of all Navajo
weavings.
A Navajo Ganado rug is first
identified by its red background which can range from a bright
crimson to a deep maroon. Typically, a serrated diamond or double
diamond design is executed in a variety of greys, black and white
with brown being used on occasion. The edges of the central design
may include additional attached geometric design elements. Stair
steps, crosses or other geometric shapes are placed in the remaining
background space and corners of the Ganado rug with the entire
area of the rug enclosed by a dark border.
The best way to differentiate
a Ganado rug from its similar cousin, the Klagetoh weaving is
to focus on the background color. A classic Ganado weaving will
have a red background whereas the predominant background color
for a Klagetoh rug is grey.