Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number CAS 2013-0003-0006   CAS 2013-0003-0006; Rug
Category Textiles
Object Name Rug
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. Arizona, New Mexico
County
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1920s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Warp: 3-ply cotton string; Weft: Handspun natural, carded, and aniline-dyed wool; Aniline dyes
Description Rectangular rug woven entirely in plain, weft-faced tapestry technique non-interlocking joins; Banded design consists of three bands, each showing 3 identical stylized yei figures standing in full frontal pose, with light brown feet, dark brown legs and skirt, red torso, arms and neck, and square rust-brown head outlined in dark brown, with an orange (lavender on figures in middle row) earring suspended on either side of the neck; The three figures are woven on a plain white background; Alternating between the three rows of yei figures are two double rows of opposing chevrons in colors of white, orange, and two shades of brown; The two rows of chevrons in each band are, themselves, bisected by a narrower plainweave band in colors of white, dark brown, gray, and red; Narrow gray band borders each end of the rug; Both selvage and end cords are lavender.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 76.0, Length = 156.0