1930s Father Sky and Mother Earth

Antique Navajo (1930s) Father Sky and Mother Earth Sandpainting Weaving. This is a precise replication of a Navajo sandpainting design using all hand spun wool from her own sheep. The design shows Father Sky (left) and Mother Earth (right). A pollen trail, representing fertility, connects the two mouths. Inside Father Sky, are the Sun (white face) and Moon (blue face) with horns that represent their strength. At Father Sky’s chest is two interlocking white zig-zag lines that represent the Milky Way. Inside Mother Earth grows the four sacred plants; corn, beans, tobacco, and squash on a background of a beautiful blue sky. The top of the weaving features the Sun’s medicine bundle (top left) and a bat (top right).

This weaving is attributed to Atlnaba (b. 1899) and a nearly identical weaving is owned by the Museum of Northern Arizona and is featured in “Navajo Weavings with Ceremonial Themes” p. 148 (see photos).

Atlnaba was the daughter of Medicine Man Miguelito (also known as Red Point). Atlnaba, and Hosteen Klah’s niece Gladys Manuelito, were among the only weavers who worked under the guidance of Navajo medicine men. Most Navajo sandpainting weavers worked alone and created designs that were modified in a way that they perceived traders would want to buy. As a result, most Navajo sandpainting weavings from the 1920s and 1930s are loose artistic interpretations of these designs. Atlnaba was the exception, as she created precise reproductions of actual sandpainting designs as instructed by a medicine man.

69” (5.75') Width, 72” (6') Length