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This beautifully unique and functional artistry has gone through many iterations throughout time, so it’s important to remember how the Navajo have transitioned from the traditional “Chief” blankets in the beginning, preceding the Trading Post Era, to the regional pictorials of today.
The historic period of Navajo rug weavings really began in the very early 1700s and ran all the way to the 1850s. Weavers, learning from the Pueblos, Spanish and traders, created blankets, dresses, rugs and tapestries that have set the foundation for what has been a momentous artistic and cultural movement for the Navajo people.
Weaving changed rapidly from the 1850s to the 1940s. In fact, the Navajo transitioned through six periods in that time, including: late classic, the Bosque Redondo or “Long Walk” interment, transitional, rug, revival and finally the regional Trading Post styles.
The most important thing to remember is that when you’re dealing with authentic Navajo weavings, be it blankets, transitional work, or specific pieces like Germantown, Dazzlers, Two Grey Hills, or even Pictorials, that these are original one-of-a-kind artworks that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
Antique, Vintage and Historic Navajo Rugs
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Antique Germantown Navajo Yei Be Chei Textiles- pair- PC 11-PC 12
$ 20,000.00
Historic Germantown Yei be Chei Navajo rugs for sale. This pair is more like fraternal twins with a slight difference size/color. About 30 years ago Steve found the 1st of this set of Germantown weavings and was thrilled when he found a second Germantown Yei be Chei-- 15 years later. What make it so remarkable is the weavings are Germantown ...

Chee Dodge - Crystal Pictorial Navajo Rug : Historic : PC 276 : 48" x 75"
$ 8,000.00
This pristine Hero Twin Pictorial is vibrant and unusual. Attached with a lead seal is the original certificate of authenticity. This paper tag was attached to all Navajo rugs beginning in 1937. It stated for the consumer that the product was a Navajo all-wool woven fabrics and was used by the government as a certificate of genuineness. We...

HOLD - Antique Yei Pictorial : Hero Twins : PC 23 : 51" X 85"
Yei Hero Twins depicting flint, lighting, and arrows used to slay the monsters. Due to the highlighting it was likely woven in the Red Mesa area.Most unusual and extremely well woven. Hand carded and hand spun Lincoln wool, Aniline dyes. This weaving was part of the 2016 /2017 Painting with Wool : Navajo Pictorial Weavings exhibit at Nizhoni ...

HOLD - Yei - Lukachukai Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 2213 : 42" x 70"
Each features the same diagonal body coloring, medicine bundles, feet treatment, feather banners, and streamer dangles. If not woven by the same person, the weavers were closely related. It was woven with all hand-carded, hand-spun, hand-dyed native wool. This weaving was part of the 2016 Woven Holy People exhibit at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery and is...

Mountain Shooting Way Yei : Antique Navajo Weaving : GHT 2307 : 49″ x 73″
$ 4,500.00
This is a unique take on the fire dancers that are part of the Navajo Mountain Way Ceremony. Usually Mountain way dancers are depicted in weavings with true faces, not masks as in this weaving. It also has many rainbow yei elements. Hand spun wool. Style Yei / Yei Be Chei Weaver Unknown Navajo Date circa 1940s Size 49″ x 73″ Item # ...
Sandpainting - Mother Earth Father Sky Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 1020 : 33" x 54"
Sandpainting

Sandpainting - Mother Earth Father Sky Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 1020 : 33" x 54"
$ 12,500.00
This is a beautiful sandpainting weaving featuring Mother Earth (on the left) and Father Sky (on the right) from the Shooting way chant. The bottom figures depict the Great Figures. Horns of power appear on their heads, The masks are outlined in red to indicate the life and power within. At the top of the weaving are Yei Be Chei dancers who ar...

Sandpainting - Nightway Variant : Historic : GHT 2225 : 48" x 35"
$ 9,000.00
Nightway Sandpainting with a folk art feel. Wonderful detail featuring a Yei, patient and Mediccine man. The patient is wrapped in a blanket and looks to be dancing. Hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-dyed native wool was used. Beautiful variegated brown/gray background wool. exquisite! This weaving was part of the 2016 Woven Holy People exh...

SOLD Sandpainting - Beauty Way Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 2217
Sandpainting weavings are created by a small number of weavers. The skill has been passed down by Hosteen Klah, a powerful medicine man. In this piece from the Beautyway Ceremony, the artist used Germantown yarns for the bright colors, but used hand-carded, hand-spun native wool elsewhere. The weaver intentionally create differences(mistakes)i...

Yei - Holy Girl Pictorial : Historic : GHT 1041 : 48" x 102"
$ 12,000.00
Female Yei weaving standing over 8 feet tall! It is a female Woven with beautiful light gray background, vibrant red, deep black and cream wool in the design. A lovely stepped border stands between two Spider woman cross borders. This weaving was part of the 2016 Woven Holy People exhibit at Nizhoni Ranch Gallery and is on page 13 of the catal...

Yei - Rainbow Bars and Transitional Border : Historic : GHT 2222 : 77" x 50"
$ 19,000.00
A most unusual and beautiful Yei piece! Female Yeis with elongated torsos are the focal point of this piece. Each carry rainbow bar streamers, and rainbow bars float in the space between them. This weaving is from the turn of the century woven from all hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-dyed Merino wool. This weaving was part of the 2016 Wo...

Yei Be Chei : Historic : GHT 2215 : 62" x 45"
$ 14,500.00
Protected by a border of arrow fletchings on all sides, Yei Dancers prepare to dance in a healing ceremony. Talking God with all of the feathers on his head wears a deer pelt as a sash and carries a weasel skin. The dancers are all male with the exception of the female with the square head in the center. The male dancers are adorned with fox...

Yei Be Chei Dancer : Historic Navajo Weaving : GHT 2247 : 66" x 49"
$ 12,500.00
Most likely this piece was woven in the Two Grey Hills area of the Navajo reservation. Showcased in the center of the piece is a Yei Be Chei Dancer. He is wearing a squash blossom necklace and just a hint of red in his footwear. The beautiful hooked shapes in the borders of this design show how the Navajo were influenced by the designs seen i...

Yei Be Chei Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 2283-KS: 10'2″ x 5’9″
$ 17,500.00
All Yei and Yei Be Chei weavings are very special. Shown here we have a spectacular rug from the 1930-1940s. All the Yeis are holding rain chains Wonderful vintage rainbow colors. A "spirit" line is prominent in this piece, can you find it? This rug was woven using all hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-dyed native wool. Style Yei / Yei...

Yei Be Chei Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 757 : 80" x 46"
$ 18,000.00
All Yei and Yei Be Chei weavings are very special. We have two pairs of Male and Female Yeis dancing while holding blankets. There are rainbow bars floating all around them indicating these dancers are surrounded by good luck and prosperity. A "spirit" line is prominent in this piece. Woven using all hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-dyed nat...
Yei Be Chei Pictorial / Storm Pattern Navajo weaving : Historic : GHT 2103: 5'3" x 9'
Yei

Yei Be Chei Pictorial / Storm Pattern Navajo weaving : Historic : GHT 2103: 5'3" x 9'
$ 18,000.00
This is a great example of a weaver combining two styles - the Yei / Yei Be Che weaving with the Storm Pattern design. There are 3 Female Yeis in the center of the storm pattern which is surrounded by Male Yeis and Medicine man, depiction of a healing ceremony. All hand-carded, hand-spun, and hand-dyed native wool. Click on the video to hear G...

Yei Foxtail Navajo Weaving : Historic : GHT 2168 : 76″ x 43″
$ 9,500.00
This is a very early Yei Be Chei weaving, depicting the Male & Female (Males round head, females square) Yei Be Chei Dancers with feathers, Rainbow Bars and the unusual stylized 1939 date woven in at the bottom. Male and female Yeis, male Yeis have foxtails hanging from their waist. The date on the weaving tells us it was probably commissio...

Yei Gallegos Dancer : Historic Navajo Weaving : GHT 2301 : 41″ x 60″
$ 4,500.00
This Navajo weaving features a Gallegos dancer. Holding a gourd rattle on one hand and a spruce twig in the other. The conical nose is a breathing tube shaped from the neck of a gourd. He also has a fancy concho belt where his fox belt is attached. Sacred corn plants encircle this special dancer. Style Yei / Yei Be Chei Weaver Unknow...