Saturday, February 17, 2024

Navajo Rugs of the Western Reservation [1]
Art Essay

Marie-Therese Wisniowski

Preamble
For your convenience, I have listed below posts that also focus on rugs.
Navajo Rugs
Persian Rugs
Caucasian Rugs
Turkish Rugs
Navajo Rugs of the Ganado, Crystal and Two Grey Hills Region
Navajo Rugs of Chinle, Wide Ruins and Teec Nos Pos Regions
Navajo Rugs of the Western Reservation


Navajo Rugs of the Western Reservation [1]
The region of weaving on the west side of Navajoland is as large as some Eastern States in the USA. The region is roughly one hundred and twenty by fifty miles, from Coppermine on the west to Chilchinbito on the east, from Kaibito on the north to Tuba City on the south. Other weaving centers in this region are Shanto, Inscription House, Kerley's Trading Post, Camerson, The Gap, Paiute Mesa, Navajo Mountain and Cedar Ridge. For these far-flung communities Tuba City functions as something of a satellite capital.

Tuba City


Ella Yazzi Bia of White Clay
Maker: Ella Yazzi Bia.
Comment[1]: Ella Yazzi Bia of White Clay, Arizona, was commissioned to copy a design in Read Mullan's catalog. In six months the job was done but with tiny differences in design.
Size: 39 x 63 inches.
Courtesy: Tom E. Kirk Collection.

Genesis of storm pattern elements
Maker: Unknown.
Comment[1]: Genesis of storm pattern elements are shown in this early example (circa 1910.)
Size: 46 x 60 inches.
Courtesy: Museum of Northern Arizona.

Three weavers of note in this region are Mabel Bighorse, Marie Sheppard and Mary Wison Begay.

Rug by Mabel Bighorse
Maker: Mabel Bighorse.

Rug by Marie Sheppard
Maker: Marie Sheppard.
Note: No specifics about her work were given by reference [1].

Rug by Mary Begay
Maker: Mary Begay.
Comment [1]: Seemingly in action is this vibrant raised-outline, Mary Begay weave of double-saddle proportions.
Size: 30 x 60 inches.
Courtesy: Read Mullan Collection.

Bird Pictorial, Mary Begay
Maker: Mary Begay.
Title: Bird Pictorial.
Note: No specifics about her work were given by reference [1].

Two Grey Hills, Mary Begay
Maker: Mary Begay.
Title: Two Grey Hills.
Note: No specifics about her work were given by reference [1].


Reference:
[1] D. Dedera, Navajo Rugs, Northland Publishing, Flagstaff, Arizona (1990).

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