RARE; Published Diné [Navajo] pictorial weaving: 6 HORSES watching Yeibichai Healing Ceremony. [W9504]

American Indian Antique Art and Southwest Native Originals

Rare, Published Yeibichai weaving.  Due to its uniqueness, Rebecca and Jean-Paul Valette included this weaving in their 2017 book, Navajo Weaving with Ceremonial Themes .  In the book, they commented: “In the 1930s, Navajo men would ride their horses to the site of the ceremony and tie them up during the dancing. The inclusion [in this weaving] of six horses seemingly watching the scene adds an original note to this weaving.” [see Figure 6.5.14 on p.266 of their book] 

 Comments
C. 1930, a skilled Diné weaver envisioned and created this delightful --and RARE-- Yeibichai weaving showing 6 HORSES watching the Yeibichai portion of the Dine 9–day Nightway Healing Ceremony.  In my 40+ years of studying and collecting old Diné [Navajo] weavings, I have never before seen an antique Yeibichai pictorial depicting horses observing the healing ceremony!

One of the reasons I love antique Diné hand-woven pictorial weavings is because each creative weaver puts her own distinctive features in her weavings.  The most valued “Yeibichai pictorial” weavings are those that show realistic details and individual differences and characteristics of the depicted Yei impersonators.  Weaving realistic details requires more creativity, dedication, time and skill to complete a unique weaving compared to more common weavings where every figure is the same.  

         This delightful weaving is an excellent example of a Diné weaver dedicated to creating a distinctive Yeibichai pictorial more representative of the real life ceremony.  The distinctive features in this weaving required not only more artisitic creativity, but many more hours planning, spinning, dyeing, and weaving the pictorial.  Several features of this weaving clearly indicate its Diné weaver was not only skilled, but wanted to "gift" us with a unique and special Yeibichai weaving.

      The first wonderful feature that makes this Yeibichai pictorial a unique, distinctive ‘gift’ from its wonderful weaver is her depiction of 6 horses watching the ceremony!  That in itself is very rare.  It’s especially delightful that she depicted the horses with their ears standing straight up at attention as they intently watch and listen to the ceremony!  The horses also are depicted with different sizes and shapes of heads, including one with a white blaze on its sorrel head!  Notice that 1 poor horse has NO EARS, but doesn’t let that distract him or her from respectfully observing the ceremony!           

     The weaver also made each Yei impersonator different than the others—which is more realistic of real life Yeibichai ceremonies.  Look closely and notice that the male figures have both subtle and not-so-subtle differences in: (1) height; (2) head size; (3) head feathers; (4) case masks; (5) kilt colors and designs!  The 2 female figures have different height, head shape and size, body size, and design and color of their clothing.  Those differences are intentional, not accidental.

         Another special delight is the very TALL last male figure with a horse close to his head!  Is that perhaps why that end of the weaving is slightly TALLER than the other end--the weaver needed to weave that end slightly bigger to accommodate the tall Yei impersonator?  Did she mean to imply that perhaps his horse was close to him and getting ready to nuzzle him?

         Notice also that all the Yei impersonators are depicted with well-developed calf muscles—even the women!  Spending the time and effort to develop their calf muscles so they can perform the ceremony with perfection, shows their respect for, and devotion to, their important role in the Nightway Healing Ceremony!

         Please note that in these comments I do NOT refer to the Yeibichai ceremony as a “dance”, and do not refer to the Yei impersonators as “dancers”.  This is because the 9 day Nightway Healing Ceremony, and its “Yeibichai” portion, are very serious Diné traditional ceremonies respectfully calling upon their revered Yei Spirits to bring blessings to heal a person for whom the ceremony is conducted.  Referring to the Yeibichai ceremony as a “dance” leads to misrepresenting or misunderstanding it as a ‘performance’ or entertainment.

PRICE:  $4800 USD.  US sale and shipping only. CALL 703-801-2565 to discuss purchase and ship options.  

Buy without worries!! (1) Written authenticity guarantee from 28 yr.  member of Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Asso. [ATADA.org]. (2) To protect your health and the integrity of this rare, irreplaceable Dine weaving art: NO returns or refunds unless agreed otherwise in writing. (3) Virus-FREE!  We, our inventory and packing materials have been fully protected from Covid and other infectious virus exposures. (4) To protect YOUR HEALTH and ours: ALL our inventory items are FREE of chemicals, fragrances, mold, odors, smoking, moths and moth pesticides.

DIMENSIONS.  Width 65.5” and height approximately 43”.

Written Authenticity Guarantee:  Diné [Navajo] pictorial weaving, c. 1930, depicting 6 horses watching the Yeibichai Ceremony of the Diné Nightway Healing Ceremony.  Size approximating 43 x 65 inches.  Wefts: 26-28 per inch of Diné hand-spun wool in colors of natural black, white, grey, and synthetic-dyed colors of burnt orange, dark orange, red, dark green, light green and black.  Warps: 7 per inch; Diné hand-spun natural white wool.

$4,800.00

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