Navajo Pictorial Nightway Chant ~4 by 6' 1987 Signed PG (Pauline Glasses)

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Wonderful Navajo Pictorial Weaving Nightway Chant Dimensions: ~48 by 70" Circa: Mid 20th century Condition: Weaving is near new condition. Virtually no wear Attribution: signed P.G. (Pauline Glasses) Over 100 figures fill this story of a most important Navajo tradition Weaving is in near new condition.Please feel free to e-mail with questions. For a similar 47 x 59" weaving that sold at $5,300 please see the following: Aleta Tsosie Navajo Pictorial /auctions/item.aspx?ItemId=100147 Please feel free to e-mail with questions Insurance is included in the shipping cost. Buyer pays return shipping/insurance if return of the item is warranted EBAY ISSUED NOTICE: Seller Fees for items above $50 will be going up May 1, 2013 from a range of 2 to 6% to a standard 10%, a 65 to 500% increase depending on final price. Unfortunately our pricing has been adjusted up as a result. Please note that ebay seller fees (with paypal) are $130.00 for each $1000. in final item selling cost... The Nightway chant is a nine-day chant. It is estimated that the cost to the Navajo for this curing "way" may cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to more than ten thousand dollars, depending upon the size of the patient's extended family. The whirling log episode is most readily identified with the Nightway chant, where it appears on the sixth night. The sandpainting of the whirling logs also appears in the Feather or Plumeway and Waterway chants. It is also called the Floating Logs episode.In the Whirling Logs narrative, or Tsil-ol-ne story, the hero of the story sets out on a long journey [down the San Juan River]. At first, the gods try to persuade him against going, but seeing his determination, help him hollow out a log in which he will travel down the river.Along the way, he has many misadventures which ultimately result in his gaining important ceremonial knowledge. In one such instance, he and his craft are captured by the Water People, who carry him down beneath the waters to the home of Water Monster. Black God threatens to set fire to Water Monster's home and the hero is released, but not before being taught by Frog how to cure the illnesses caused by the Water People.When he finally reaches the big river [the Colorado River] that is his destination, the gods take his log out of a whirlpool where the rivers meet, and help him to shore.In the sandpainting, you will see the gods, clockwise from the top, they are Talking God (B'ganaskiddy), the teacher; and at the bottom, Calling God (Hastye-o-gahn), associated with farming and fertility. On each side, left and right, are two humpbacked guardians, dressed alike. The humps are usually regarded as back-packs. They are the seed gatherers and bearers. The two guardians usually carry tobacco pouches.The Gods carry prayer sticks, Talking God, elder of the Gods, carries a medicine pouch in the shape of a weasel.Where the rivers met, the hero came upon a whirling cross with two Yeis seated on each of the four ends. From them, he learned the knowledge of farming and is given seeds. He then returns to his home to share these gifts with his people. The yei pair are male and female. The male in black, with a round head mask. The female has a square head mask.In the sandpaintings, these plants are shown, from the right of Talking God as corn, and clockwise as beans, squash, and tobacco. The plants, and/or other elements of the design are shown in the four sacred colors, white, blue, yellow and black, according to their cardinal positions.On the right side, bottom, and left side of the sandpainting is portrayed the Rainbow Yei, a guardian god. There is sometimes a circle drawn, and painted blue, at the intersection of the cross, said to represent the whirlpool which was the destination of the episode's hero.Figures in Navajo sandpaintings generally proceed either towards the sunrise... read more

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