A woman has been left utterly astounded after discovering that a colourful rug she purchased for a mere £1.14 from a charity shop is actually a highly valuable piece of Native American art, potentially worth a small fortune.
The Incredible Charity Shop Discovery
While browsing through a Goodwill store, the woman came across a rug adorned with beautifully hand-woven birds. Intrigued by its unique appearance, she decided to buy it for just $1.49, which is approximately £1.14. It was only after a closer inspection that she began to suspect she had stumbled upon something far more significant than a simple second-hand item.
Uncovering the Rug's True Identity and Value
The shopper took to Reddit to share her find, revealing that her purchase was, in fact, an authentic Navajo rug. She noted that other rugs created by the weaver, identified as Sane Weaver, are valued at a minimum of $2,500, or around £1,900. She signed off her post with "Nizhoní Diyogi," which translates to "beautiful rug" in the Navajo language.
The Rich History of Navajo Weaving
According to the Nizhoni Ranch Gallery, Navajo weaving has a profound cultural history. The craft is deeply rooted in Navajo tradition, with the deity Spider Woman widely believed to have taught the Navajo people how to weave. It is said the first loom was crafted from sky and earth cords, with the weave itself made from sunlight, lightning, crystals, and white shells.
However, anthropologists suggest a different origin, believing that the Pueblo people were the ones who initially taught the Navajo how to create hand-woven blankets. They were later influenced by the Spanish, who introduced cotton to the Pueblo before 1650.
In a matriarchal twist, while Pueblo men typically wove textiles, it was the Navajo women who owned the sheep and took up the craft of weaving wool. The tradition began with creating women's dresses from two identical blankets and evolved into the creation of single blankets.
The statement adds that over time, the rugs became more beautiful, diverse, and sought-after. The yarns used have also evolved, from natural hand-carded and hand-dyed varieties to the prized Navajo Churro wool used today.
A Timeless and Unique Craft
The fundamental process of Navajo weaving remains unchanged. Artisans still use a hand-made upright loom with one continuous warp. Each strand of woolen yarn is meticulously placed by hand, one at a time. This painstaking method means that if a Navajo rug is cut, it will not unravel. This process cannot be mechanised, making Navajo weaving one of the most unique textile arts in the world.
Today, these rugs can command enormous prices, especially those featuring unusual designs and demonstrating a high level of skill.
Social Media Reacts to the Find
The online community was quick to share its amazement. One user commented, "Who would sell this for $2 (£1.50)? It’s obviously beautiful." Another offered practical advice, saying, "Showed this to my mum and she's freaking out over it. It's beautiful! Definitely look up proper care instructions as you do not wash or dry clean this rug." A third user humorously contrasted the find with their own local charity shop experiences, noting, "Meanwhile my local Goodwill is selling chipped coffee mugs that are stained for $2.50 (£2)."
