Return to Hobby Den NAVAJO RUG
Navajo Weaver (19th
century)
The Navajo Rug shown below was woven on a
traditional Navajo loom, entirely by hand without mechanical devices by famed
weaver Eleanor James of Wheatfield Arizona, a member of the Navajo tribe. The design of the rug is based upon the
Whirling Log legend explained in my description for James C.Joe’s sand
painting. Navajo women learned weaving
in the 17th century from their Pueblo Indian neighbors who had been
practicing this craft since 800 AD. Spanish settlers had brought their
Churro sheep to the region in the early 1600s and introduced the Navajo to
wool. By the early 1800s, Navajo
weavers used wool exclusively, and became well known among both their Indian
and Spanish neighbors for finely woven, nearly weatherproof blankets that
became popular trade items. Because
they are not sacred objects in themselves and have, in fact, always served a
practical end in the Navajo culture and trading post, rugs showing sacred sand
painting images have always been somewhat controversial within the Navajo
community, and many weavers still decline to make such representations. As shown in my rug, Yei pattern rugs feature
images of the gods (Holy People), drawn from Whirling Log ceremonial sand paintings,
and yet they don’t recreate an entire painting, only the Yeis, who were
supernatural beings who assist the ritual.
In Eleanor James’ rug, typical of master Navajo artisans, the Yeis are
highly stylized figures with elongated bodies, short straight legs, and heads
facing the viewer. Eleanor’s rug,
shown below, illustrates this relationship best, demonstrating the highest
degree of this Native American craft.