Inv# A1907

Materials: Clay; water-based acrylic paints; legal bird feathers; reed sticks; leather ties; backside hanging wire of braided steel
Size:  14.75” long x 5.25” wide x 2” high.  Weight:  2 pounds & 2.4 oz

Guarantee:  2019 hand-crafted Yei Double-Mask Sculpture, “Twin Warriors”, by Diné artist, David K John.

Detailed Description:  hand-shaped, hand-made, kiln-fired clay sculpture of a double-Yei mask including:  a protruding, round, hand-formed clay mouthpiece, a forehead clay decorative piece for feather attachment.  The entire vertical length of the center of the mask is hand-formed into a raised curve giving the mask a 3-dimensional profile.  After kiln firing, water-based acrylic paints were applied; legal feathers are attached at the forehead area; and a reed bundle is attached to the right side using small leather ties.  A braided steel hanging wire is attached across the back using 2 small holes pre-formed prior to kiln firing.

Detailed Dimensions:

• Top to bottom length:  14.75”, with the reed stick bundle extending another 3” on the top left.

• Side to side width:  5.25” wide each mask’s feather extending another 1.25” on the right side.

• Height:  the mask height is 2.1” high at top and 1.75” high at the bottom of the lower mask.  The upper mask mouthpiece extends 1.1” above the mask surface; the lower mask mouthpiece extends 1” above the mask surface.

• Clay body thickness:  0.3 > 0.4” thick

Weight:  2 pounds & 2.4oz.

COMMENTS
David named this wonderful Yei mask “Twin Warriors” Here are David’s comments on some aspects of this Yei mask sculpture.  Starting at the top of the mask:

• Feathers: legal bird feathers—no federally prohibited migratory bird feathers

• Water-based acrylic paints—no solvents or sealants

• The reed-like stick bundles represent reeds that in the Diné Creation Narrative enabled the Diné people to escape a devastating flood in the 3rd world under this world.  According to that narrative, when the flood came to the 3rd world, the Diné People climbed onto reeds that quickly grew to the sky, enabling the Diné to be saved and emerge into this the 4th world.

Upper mask symbols

• Right side: 2 dragonflies

• Left side 7 spirals:  time

• centered 4 white circles represent the 4 worlds the Diné People traveled through, 3 of which were under this, the 4th world

Lower mask symbols

• Left side upper: 4 yellow dots represent rain.

• Left side lower: corn plant

• Centered 4 red dots:  the 4 worlds the Diné People traveled through, 3 of which were under this, the 4th world.

• Right side upper:  green flowers

• Right side lower- square spiral: male symbol  

Additional comment by me.

• David’s name “Twin Warriors” for this Yei double mask may refer to the Diné Creation Narrative in which ancestor twins successfully destroyed monsters that existed in the world when the Diné People emerged from the lower world

• I am sure you realize the Yei clay masks & Yei figures are NOT religious objects, but are the artist’s artistic interpretation of the Yei holy spirits that in Diné religious beliefs play an important role in protecting the Diné People.  Some of the symbols are traditional Diné symbols.  However, neither the Yei masks nor the Yei figures are accurate representations of Yeis or even of YeiBiChai dancers’ masks.  Under Diné traditional religious beliefs accurate representation of Yeis would violate religious beliefs and be offensive to Yei holy spirits.  [Perhaps similar to Christian prohibitions on ‘using the Lord’s name in vain?] 

• Colors.  Notice that each of the Yei masks & Yei sculptures contain colors of white, blue, yellow and black.  These 4 colors have special cultural and spiritual significance for the Diné People. Among other things, they represent the four cardinal directions that have spiritual significance and link to their ancestral homeland containing 4 ‘sacred’ mountains discussed in the Diné Creation Narrative.  Black represents North and their sacred northern mountain, Dibe’ Ntsaa [Hesperus Peak].  White represents East and their sacred eastern mountain, Sisnaajini [Blanca Peak].  Blue represents South and their sacred southern mountain Tsoodzil [Mount Taylor].  Yellow represents West and their sacred mountain Dook’o’oosliid [San Francisco Peaks].  For more info:  https://navajopeople.org/blog/the-navajo-four-sacred-colors/

• The yellow round protuberance on the Yei mask sculpture adds even more delightful presence to the sculpture.  It is not a nose, but rather is representative of the mouth breathing tube on the masks worn by Yei impersonators during the YeiBiChai ‘dance’ of the Nightway Healing Ceremony.  On those real masks, breathing tubes are often made of the neck of a dried gourd. 

• The sculpture’s white area surrounding the base of the yellow breathing tube is another great detail.  It is representative of downy owl feathers typically used on real YeibiChai masks at the base of their dried gourd breathing tube.

It is our sincere hope that you enjoy these additional details and comments.  Thank you!