Huge & Superb Navajo Wool Blanket w/ Yei Figures

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
Showcasing an extraordinary array of artifacts and art, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial treasures, fossils, fine and visual arts, and more! All ancient items are ethically sourced and legally available for sale. Enjoy the ease of in-house shipping for a seamless experience! Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Native American, Southwestern United States, Navajo (Dine), ca. late 20th century CE. An expansive handwoven wool rug featuring Yei figures - sacred deities in Navajo culture - arranged in two rows, standing toe to toe. The composition is framed by a stepped border in ochre and black on a white ground. The central panel presents stylized Yei figures in white and black on a gray background, adorned with red and turquoise accents that evoke the revered materials of coral and turquoise stones. Each figure is depicted with jewelry, including earrings and necklaces. The substantial size, exceptional craftsmanship, and rich iconography make this a highly desirable example of Navajo weaving. A small attached tag bears the handwritten name "Mary Caboni," possibly identifying the weaver. Size: 95" L x 65" W (241.3 cm x 165.1 cm)
  
  ?In Navajo (Dine) culture, Yei are revered as Holy People or deities who serve as intermediaries between the Great Spirit and humans. Traditionally, these figures were depicted in ceremonial sandpaintings created during healing rituals. These sandpaintings were considered sacred and were destroyed upon the ceremony's conclusion to maintain their transient nature. ? The introduction of Yei figures into Navajo textiles began around the 1890s. This practice was controversial among the Dine, as it involved rendering sacred imagery in a permanent form, which some believed could lead to spiritual repercussions. The depiction of these deities in weavings was seen by some as a violation of cultural and religious protocols ?In Yei rugs, the gender of the deities is indicated by the shape of their heads: square heads represent female deities, while round heads denote male deities.
  
  Provenance: from a Denver, Colorado, USA fine art gallery
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #192136

  Condition

  Excellent, very little wear, if any. Has a Velcro strip sewn along one edge from the previous owner, likely for displaying on a wall.
• Shipping Info

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