Did you know post 20th C Navajo kilims and rugs were inspired by Armenian rugs?
JB Moore was a trader who established a post at Crystal, New Mexico at the western end of the Narbona Pass, where he developed the manufacture of Navajo Blankets for sale in the United States.
https://en.wikipedia..._Bradford_Moore
Around the turn of the 20th century there was great demand for oriental rugs, so Moore developed simplified oriental patterns for his weavers. He took the designs of Armenian rugs (they were called Turkish rugs at the time but we know better today) which were popular in the US, simplified them and passed them on to the Navajo to produce.
He wrote a book, called “The Navajo” in which he illustrates this. This publication was a catalogue published to promote his Navajo rugs.
https://www.amazon.c...36755016/ref=sr
Below is an excerpt from the book, “The Navajo” where he clearly shows where the inspiration for his designs came from.
