Native American Hand woven Yei Pictorial Accent Rug 28" x 42"

Native American Hand-Woven Yei Pictorial Wool Rug, Navajo-Style, Circa 1930s–1960s

Dimensions: 28 inches wide x 42 inches long

This is a striking and culturally rich hand-woven rug featuring three front-facing Yei figures — the Holy People of Navajo spiritual tradition — rendered in bold black against a luminous natural cream ground. Each figure is depicted in the classic Yei format: angular, upright, and front-facing, with a rectangular head, extended arms, and arrow motifs radiating outward from the body. Below each figure, a series of inverted triangles and zigzag lightning-bolt bands fill the field with kinetic energy, creating a visual rhythm that draws the eye across the textile's horizontal expanse. A narrow black border frames the entire composition, grounding the design and giving it a finished, formal quality. The palette is deliberately restrained — cream, black, and soft natural tan — which gives the piece a graphic boldness unusual for its modest size.

The Yei are Navajo deities or holy people, and the portrayal of Yei figures in woven textiles became prevalent following the pioneering work of Hosteen Klah, a Navajo medicine man and weaver, in the early 20th century. Yei rugs feature stylized, abstract figures that face the viewer with long angular bodies and short straight legs, representing the actual Yei holy people themselves — distinct from Yeibeichei rugs, which show human dancers performing the role of the Yei in profile. The three figures here follow that front-facing Yei convention closely, each one a composition unto itself yet unified into a cohesive horizontal procession across the weaving. Because of the cultural significance of the Yei to the Diné people, it is generally suggested that such textiles be displayed respectfully — ideally hung on a wall rather than used as a floor rug. That recommendation makes this piece a natural candidate for wall display, where its bold graphic composition and spiritual imagery can be fully appreciated.

The flatweave tapestry construction is consistent with the Navajo upright-loom tradition, woven weft-faced with what appears to be handspun and/or commercial wool in a tight, even weave.

Style: Navajo Yei Pictorial; Southwestern Native American Weaving Tradition

Maker: Unknown Navajo or Navajo-style weaver

Materials: Wool, natural undyed (cream) and black-dyed; flatweave tapestry construction

Price Note: Navajo Yei rugs are among the most sought-after and culturally significant categories of Southwestern weaving, and examples in good condition regularly bring $150–$400 and well beyond through dealers and auction. At $71.40, this piece is priced well below market and represents a genuine opportunity for a collector, decorator, or anyone drawn to the power and beauty of Native American textile art.

Keywords: Navajo Yei rug, Yei pictorial rug, Native American woven rug, Navajo holy people rug, Diné textile, hand-woven Navajo rug, black and white Navajo rug, Southwestern figurative rug, Yei figure weaving, Navajo sandpainting rug, front-facing deity rug, arrow motif rug, zigzag triangle rug, flatweave pictorial rug, Navajo ceremonial art, Native American wall hanging, tribal figurative textile, cream and black rug, antique style Navajo rug, collectible Native American textile, Southwestern wall art, Navajo rug for sale, handmade wool rug, vintage Navajo style rug, 28x42 rug, accent rug, pictorial weaving, spiritual textile, indigenous American art

Item Number: 5877-14

Item ID: 292472

Category: TRADITIONAL

• From: 3/27/26 - 4/25/26 Price: $64.26
• From: 4/26/26 - 5/26/26 Price: $57.12
• From: 5/27/26 - & After Price: $49.98