Vintage Pictorial Weaving depicting a Yei, c. 1940
Navajo Nation
natural sheep wool, aniline dye
89" long x 48.5" wide
“Yei” (pronounced “yay”) is the Navajo (Diné) name for the benevolent supernatural beings who bring their healing power to medicinal ceremonies still performed today. In fact, they were first portrayed in traditional sandpainting designs created for these ceremonies, but the modern Yei rug is more of a pictorial composition. Male Yeis have round heads, while the more commonly found female Yeis are shown with square or rectangular heads.
