Vintage Antique Yei with 3 Small Head’s
Vintage Antique Yei with 3 Small Head’s, circa 1920’s. The weaver for this Navajo Vintage Rug is unknown because of the date in which it was woven. The Vintage Navajo Rug weaving measures 5’feet and 10inches x 7feet
History of Navajo Yei
“Yei” (pronounced “yay”) is the Navajo 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 sand-painting designs created for these ceremonies, but the modern Yei rug is more of a pictorial composition, showing a row of the front- facing stylized stick figures.
Between the Yeis cornstalks, feathers, arrows, and a Rainbow Guardian may appear often surrounds and protects the figures on three sides. Some weavers of Yeis have a ceremony performed to show respect and keep harmony in their lives. Navajo ceremonialism for healing: not only physical health, but also mental, emotional, spiritual, and even material well-being.