Donated to Palm Springs Art Museum from the collection of western movie actor and artist George Montgomery (1916-2000), this large Ganado rug measures just over nine-and-a-half-feet square. The bold black-and-white stepped-diamond central design with half-diamonds on the sides is typical of earlier, classic blanket designs, yet the border on this weaving indicates that this textile was designed as a rug. The rhythmic patterns create a visual play between the positive and negative spaces. The hooked border, also called a Greek fret, is similar to design motifs found in ancient Pueblo textiles and pottery.

The rug’s large scale and use of a red field suggest that it originated from the Hubbell Trading Post area (now a National Historic Site) in Ganado, Arizona around 1900. John (Juan) Lorenzo Hubbell (1853-1930) established the Hubbell Trading Post in 1878. He encouraged Navajo weavers to incorporate classic period designs and to use large bold motifs such as crosses and diamonds, which were often outlined in a contrasting color and set against a brilliant red field. Through tradition, adaptation, and innovation, Navajo weaving styles have evolved from a blend of cross-cultural influences, and survived as a dynamic and expressive art form vested in tradition and new approaches.