Germantown Rugs, Blankets and Samplers

Germantown style Navajo rugs and blankets originate from a period in the 1860's, when over 8,000 Navajo Indians were forcibly located to an area in New Mexico called Bosque Redondo. It was at this internment site that the Navajo weavers began using manufactured yarns dyed with brighter ranges of colors (produced in Germantown, Pennsylvania) than were available through natural wool dying methods. The use of these dyes provided Navajo weavers with the opportunity to experiment with new designs and styles, including the famous "eyedazzler" blankets. Germantown blankets are sometimes recognized by their trademark diamand and cross patterns.