Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 2013-0003-0005   CAS 2013-0003-0005; Rug
Category Textiles
Object Name Rug
Culture Navajo
Global Region North America
Country USA
State/Prov./Dist. New Mexico
County San Juan
Other Geographic Data Navajo Indian Reservation; Community: Shiprock area
Maker's Name James Begay
Date of Manufacture ca. 1980s
Collection Name N/A
Materials Warp: 4 or 5-ply commercial string; Weft: Single ply, commercially spun natural, carded, and aniline dyed wool; Aniline dyes
Description Small rectangular yei-style rug woven entirely in plain, weft-faced tapestry technique with non-interlocking joins; Design consists of four identical stylized yei figures, all standing in a row in full frontal view, each with black feet, gray legs and bodies, and square white head with black neck ruff, black hair, and turquoise colored earrings with red tips; Both arms are held upward, holding a stylized red and black feather streamers in each hand; Each figure a turquoise-colored necklace with red pendant; The two figures in the center each wears a short red skirt, while the figures on the outside each wears a black skirt; Fifth rainbow yei figure surrounds other figures on three sides (bottom and 2 sides) of rug and is similar to others except that its mid-body is half red, white, and black and both arms are held to one side; All figures are on a plain white background; Black border framing rug on all four edges is straight-edged along ends, with reciprocating serrated edge along sides; Border is interrupted by white “spirit line” in one corner; Selvage and end cords are black; Typical of yei-style rugs, this one was woven longer than wide but is intended to be viewed wider than long.
Dimensions (cm) Width = 38.0, Length = 51.2