As with Orientals, Navaho rug patterns are named for the locality or family from which they originated. Although weaving was part of the Navaho culture at least as early as 1700, rugs were not made until after 1868. A modified Jacquard loom constructs an Oriental design rug so the design shows on both the back of the rug and the surface. This technique makes them look the same as hand-knotted Orientals. Authentic Orientals are all hand-knotted of wool or silk and are costly.
Some Oriental reproductions are costly.
The pattern and colors used in any Oriental rug design are based on the original tribe, town or province. In reproductions some manufacturers maintain original designs and colors, while others select colors of their own liking and create their own design interpretation. For an idea of the difference between an original Oriental rug and an Oriental reproduction, an ancient Persian carpet displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art is said to have 2,500 knots per square inch. The flat-woven Aubusson is a heavy, coarse, tightly woven tapestry rug. The Savonnerie is a fine, soft, Ghiordes-knotted pile rug.