Navajo Four Yei Figure Rug

Navajo

Circa 1930 | Wool | Item 1982

This Navajo rug has four Yei figures all holding a variety of objects. Yei are holy people or deities in Navajo culture, often depicted in sandpaintings used in healing ceremonies. These rugs first appeared in the early 20th century and are inspired by these sandpaintings but are not considered sacred objects themselves. Feathers of a variety of sizes are filled into the spaces between the Yei figures.