Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 0370-1205   CAS 0370-1205; Painting
Category Visual Arts
Object Name Painting
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona
County Apache
Other Geographic Data Town: St. Michaels
Maker's Name Robert Chee (1938-1972)
Date of Manufacture 1963
Collection Name Elkus Collection (Native American)
Materials Casein on mat board
Description Untitled painting depicting Navajo fire dance with four Navajo men wearing breechclouts and whose bodies are painted with clay, dancing around small bonfire while brandishing burning cedar torches; Two dancers on right and in background are tossing burning embers in air, while dancer at left is prodding 4th dancer with hot torch; Scene is set against black background; Image of moon transformed into arching Yei (deity) figure is overhead; Signature "Robert Chee" is printed in gray paint in lower right corner.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 70.5, Length = 50.8