1980s Sandpainting Rug

1980 Navajo sandpainting tapestry weaving by Barbara Benally depicting the “Feather People” sandpainting design. Four ceremonial figures radiate from a central turquoise circle, connected by sacred pathways in a precise four-direction composition. Each figure is rendered with remarkable detail, showing traditional body decoration, masks, and ceremonial elements associated with Navajo sandpainting imagery. Branching feather plumes extend outward in yellow, black, white, and blue, symbolizing prayer offerings and directional forces within Navajo ceremonial tradition. Woven with exceptional tapestry-level precision on a natural brown wool background, the design demonstrates extraordinary control of color and form and represents a highly refined translation of ceremonial sandpainting imagery into textile form. This weaving was awarded First Place (Blue Ribbon) at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque in 1980, and the original Old Adobe Traders tag accompanying the rug shows an original retail price of $55,675.

52” (4' 4") Width, 50.5” (4' 2.5") Length