This is an incredibly rare original Navajo Yei-Be-Chai Turquoise Woman / Changing Woman tapestry weaving made by Nellie Begay of Shiprock and purchased at the Denver Art Museum in circa 1960. This is considered Nellie Begay's last weaving done during her lifetime, she made this rug going against traditon on the subject matter, focusing on the Changing Woman. The rug was displayed at the Midwest Museum of American Art in South Bend, Indiana, a copy of the original insurance appraisal made at the time for the ?Indian Summer? show at the museum is included which has a $15,000 value for the rug in circa 1993. The rug was also displayed at the Colorado State University exhibition called ?Patterns and Sources? in 1974 and Gallery 10 Invitation in 1991. The rug features a wonderfully and professionally crafted wool construction that shows a iconic Yei design with seven full body yei figurals that shows feathered headdresses holding dancing wands with eye dazzler design that shows a light brown border, off white, cream and very light brown field with dark blue dazzler decoration with one female Yei on the side known as the Turquoise Woman with a male Yei of opposite coloration. Also known as the Changing Woman, is a depiction of a tapestry that was believed to be one of the last rugs Nellie Begay wove where she chose to depict the Spiritual Grandfathers or Grandfathers of the gods depicting the Turquoise Woman or the Mother of Us All and the bluish turquoise cast to the yarns is very unusual. Provenance: Purchased by Barbarra and Virgil Magerfleisch in the 1960-1970?s, from the e-collection of the Denver Art Museum, Colorado State University and Midwest Museum of American Art South Bend, Indiana. The tapestry weaving has been in the family since it was made by Nellie Begay and is the true prize of the collection. The rug comes complete with cancelled checks form 1970's and with paperwork and books that include the story of the depicted decoration. The condition of this Navajo rug is good with no obvious signs of damage and shows good overall condition. The measurements of this rug is 38 1/2" x 29 1/4". The thread count of this rug is 385 threads per square inch. The lot includes paperwork and literature as shown.

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