Chilly-Yazzie, Nancy Ann – 8″ Tall Jar with Six Yei Figures, Sun and Moon Designs

This is a lardge incised bowl by Nancy Ann Chilly-Yazzie. Nancy is one of the few Navajo pottery working today in a traditional style.  Her pieces are coil-built, incised, and traditionally fired.  Nancy is from the Four Corners Area on the Navajo Reservation.  This jar has a star pattern around the rim.  There are six Yei figures incised into the clay.  They alternated between male and female Yei figures.  Separating them are sun and moon designs.  Each Yei figure is highly detailed.  The jar was traditionally fired, then painted, then traditionally covered in pinon pitch. It is signed, “NAY” on the bottom.

“The Navajo people, the Diné, passed through three different worlds before emerging into this world, The Fourth World, or Glittering World. The Diné believe there are two classes of beings: the Earth People and the Holy People. The Holy People are believed to have the power to aid or harm the Earth People. Since Earth People of the Diné are an integral part of the universe, they must do everything they can to maintain harmony or balance on Mother Earth.  It is believed that centuries ago the Holy People taught the Diné how to live the right way and to conduct their many acts of everyday life. They were taught to live in harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sky and the many other elements such as man, animals, plants, and insects.”