Everybody Say Wow! A Remarkable Weaving by Pauline Yellowhair

October 13, 2010 |
Pauline Yellowhair Anasazi Yei

Pauline Yellowhair's remarkable weaving, which she describes as an Anasazi Yei. You can click on the picture for a larger view.

Tempe, AZ My trader/auctioneer friend Bruce Burnham likes to encourage audiences to say “Yay!” whenever a Ye’i rug comes up for sale at one of his auctions, but everyone who sees Pauline Yellowhair’s remarkable weaving above just says “Wow!”  Pauline is a 72 year old weaver with a self-reported 67 years of weaving experience and she wove the rug above for her son.  Pauline calls the rug an Anasazi Ye’i, but it is truly unique and unlike any other Navajo weaving I have ever seen.  It was recently purchased from Pauline’s son by Richardson’s Trading Post in Gallup, NM.  Larry Fulbright, the rug buyer at Richardson’s told me that he had seen a similar piece woven by Pauline, but that it was much smaller.  Richardson’s was so concerned about the ownership of the rug that they insisted that Pauline give her permission for the sale.  “It’s my son’s rug”, she said and Larry noted that her son used some of the proceeds on his mother’s behalf.

It’s a large weaving, maybe 5′ by 7′ or larger and carried a price tag of $60,000. [Update]  The rug was sold the day after this article was posted, so it’s no longer at Richardson’s.  I’m hoping that Pauline may someday weave another.   I feel very privileged to have seen it.

There are two detail pictures of the Ye’i faces below and you can click on either picture for a larger view.  Wow.

Face detail 1 of Pauline Yellowhair's Anasazi Ye'i Face detail 2 of Pauline Yellowhair's Anasazi Ye'i

Hagoshíí (so long for now)

Mary Walker

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6 Comments

  1. Helen McAvoy on October 16, 2010 at 9:01 am

    I too feel I was at the right place at the right time to see this amazing, truly amazing, rug. I’m happy it has a home but it should be in a museum so many people could see it and have their hearts soar too. Perhaps it was a museum?
    Thank you for returning to Richardson’s with the rest of the class so we could see it! I add my WOW.



  2. Pat T. on October 14, 2010 at 7:01 am

    I hope that someday I get a chance to meet Pauline Yellowhair. Her rug just takes my breath away. I love it, can’t stop looking at the picture on your website. It would be an honor to see her weave.

    Good luck with the Powerball, Mary. It is also another very good reason to go to Richardson’s. 🙂



  3. kim on October 14, 2010 at 6:07 am

    the rug is absolutely stunning! the colors are beautiful…..



  4. Cathy Gillis on October 13, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Wow, indeed. What a stunning weaving.



  5. sue dalton on October 13, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    It sure is a big WOW!!!!!



  6. Emmy on October 13, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    WOW!!!