Yager Museum

Containers of Belief: Selected Native American Works from the Yager

Museum Guest Curator Richard W. Hill, Jr.
Willard Yager - archaeologist, writer and collector
obtained artifacts in the late 1800s and early 1900s

The purpose of this exhibit was to "focus on spiritual meaning of the artifacts as seen by the Native American Indians who created and used these extraordinary images."

In this exhibit one may find numerous artifacts being of: pottery, textiles, pictures/ photographs, sculptures, and some jewelry. I was particularly fond of the two textile pieces displayed.

The first was made by an unknown Navajo maker and bought by Yager in 1913. It is said it was most likely purchased to use as packing material for his pottery. This individual piece displays Greek Key Motif and Stepped “L” designs throughout. These designs mimic the zigzag patterns seen on the ceramics also shown. It is red, black and tan-ish in color and was roughly 5 ft x 3 ½ ft. “The colors are created by red aniline dyes obtained through Spanish and American traders.”This individual piece was “woven in honor of the Spider Woman” who is the “spirit being, that first taught Navajo Women how to weave.”

The second textile titled Two Grey Hills Textile, was also made by an unknown Navajo maker and was bought in 1913. This roughly 3 ft x 1 ½ ft piece was grey in color and “made from natural colored sheep wool.” Woven in are images which may have represented “mountains rising above its own reflection.” Also depicted are feathers which may have represented the “complex belief system” of the time.

I liked both of these pieces because they were bold and “unique.” Today, you seldom find anything handmade/ manmade anymore, mostly machine made. Knowing that each textile was handmade shows how dedicated people were and how much time and effort it took to make one. Each piece also tells a story and no one could make a perfect replica of one with meaning behind it. The bold colors and the geometric patterns enhance the meaning behind each individual piece and make them visually attractive.