Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2013-0004-0008   CAS 2013-0004-0008; Rug
Category Textiles
Object Name Rug
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Coconino
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation; Community: Cedar Ridge
Maker's Name Evelyn Tunney (Evelyn Tunney Tsosie) (b. 1947)
Date of Manufacture 1990
Collection Name Donaldson
Materials Warp: multi-ply commercial wool yarn; Wefts: single ply commercial wool yarn; Aniline dyes (many, many colors)
Description Rectangular “Tree of Life” style rug woven entirely in plain weft-faced tapestry technique with non-interlocking joins; Design consists of a central stylized dark green cornstalk growing out of a Navajo wedding basket and extending up the center of the rug; A pair of multi-colored birds are either perched on or flying above each of the cornstalk’s nine paired leaves, with numerous other multi-colored birds and flowers arranged in paired columns on either side of the cornstalk and/or perched on several additional branches that are not actually connected to the cornstalk; Entire scene is woven on a plain white background; Triple border frames rug along sides with the inner border of dark green and turquoise blue having zigzag, serrated edges; Ends of rug are also framed in the same colors, but the green and turquoise blue border is very narrow compared to the black one and all edges are straight; Selvage cords are tan and end cords are light gray.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 84.5, Length = 120.2