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Vintage Navajo Yei Handwoven Wool Rug, American Southwest, 20th Century
About the Item
Navajo Yei Handwoven Wool Rug, American Southwest, 20th Century
Description:
A vibrant and finely handwoven Navajo Yei rug, originating from the American Southwest, likely mid-20th century. The design features five stylized Yei figures - Holy People in Navajo mythology - arranged in procession, each rendered with abstracted facial features, extended arms, and ceremonial garments, holding prayer sticks or arrows. The figures are set against a golden ochre ground and framed by a stepped zigzag border in cream, black, and rust, symbolizing spiritual protection and movement.
The rug exhibits the hallmark characteristics of Yei pictorial weaving: balanced symmetry, limited but expressive color palette, and a graphic clarity rooted in Navajo cosmology. The presence of lazy lines (diagonal join marks in the weave) is visible, indicating traditional vertical loom techniques where the weaver shifts sections to maintain tight tension—an authentic sign of handweaving and an esteemed feature in Navajo textile scholarship.
Crafted of handspun wool and dyed in natural and aniline tones, the rug includes a Velcro strip hand-stitched along the upper verso for wall hanging.
Dimensions:
36.5 in. high x 58 in. wide
Condition:
Good vintage condition. Minor even discoloration from age, staples present at lower left corner. Some light fiber wear typical of use and age. Velcro hand-sewn to verso for display.
Provenance:
From a Private Collection: 315 Riverside Drive, New York City
About Navajo Yei Rugs:
Yei (or Yeibichai) rugs emerged as a distinct style in the early 20th century in regions like the Shiprock and Lukachukai areas of the Navajo Nation. Unlike geometric Navajo weavings, Yei rugs depict spiritual beings central to Navajo ceremonial life. These weavings do not replicate sacred sandpaintings but are instead respectful artistic interpretations that celebrate Yei figures’ role in healing and harmony.
“Lazy lines”—angled color breaks or diagonal joins—are traditional Navajo weaving techniques. Far from being flaws, they are signs of authentic hand-loomed craftsmanship and are prized by collectors for their integrity and process visibility.
- Creator:Navajo (Weaver)
- Dimensions:Height: 36.5 in (92.71 cm)Width: 58 in (147.32 cm)Depth: 0.2 in (5.08 mm)
- Style:Native American (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Morristown, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5990245474992
About the Seller
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