elsie holiday
Navajo 19 Feathers Basket - Elsie Holiday (#400)
$1,875.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
14 1/2" x 2" deep
Rounds: 24
It is said that birds of a feather flock together, that people with the same tendencies hang together. Elsie Holiday's baskets have that effect on folks, they want to be near her feather art. Elsie tells us that feathers keep her in constant contact with the higher powers and help her communicate with the Holy People. We feel Elsie's basketry is divinely inspired, so her connectivity must be effective.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Feathers
Feather: As a common denominator the feather figures imortantly in Native American myth, method, and tribal practice. The feather is a metaphor for flight, a messenger to the spirit world. Feathers are used decoratively, as prayer symbols, and as designs of power. Attached to an arrow, the feather becomes the universal emblem of the hunt, of flight, of finding the mark? More about this legend
Elsie Holiday
Navajo Bull Too Basket - Elsie Holiday (#402)
$3,250.00
Navajo Bull Too Basket - Elsie Holiday (#402)
$3,250.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
16" x 18" x 2 1/2" deep
Rounds: 26
No bull, this “Bull Too” basket by Elsie Holiday is a wonderment. Abstract in terms of design and color, this weaving stands as a testament to Elsie’s amazing talent. Hallelujah brother, we believe she is the very best!
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Property
Among the explanatory elements already cited, two concern property or material possessions the prescription of the marriage payment and the belief that earth people would quarrel over sandpaintings. The possession of property is used as a standard of comparison in a reference to Apache aliens; The fact that Navajo runners win valuables from them is given as the reason why the Navajo have ever since been richer than their neighbors. These references indicate the importance attributed to the possession of property, particularly as it is useful for sexual and ritual purposes? More about this legend
Elsie Holiday
Navajo Butterfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#406)
$1,875.00
Navajo Butterfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#406)
$1,875.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
13" x 14 1/2" x 3 1/2" deep
Rounds: 21
Elsie Holiday loves butterflies and also loves to weave baskets. Put these two passions together and this is what you get, a contemporary Navajo basket that knocks your socks off. What a thing of beauty!
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Butterfly in Navajo Traditional Stories
Butterfly: Due to the natural beauty of its wings, Butterfly is often considered vain. Yet, in Navajo mythology, Butterfly brings the sacred flint to the hooves of the horse. In the legend of the diety, Butterfly Boy was cured of his vanity by being lightning struck with the axe of Rain Boy. After that, his head opened up and out of it came the butterflies of the world. The perishable dust of Butterfly's wings is sometimes thought to prove that such beauty is usually not durable.
Elsie Holiday
Navajo Butterfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#412)
$2,750.00
Navajo Butterfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#412)
$2,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
17" x 19" x 3" deep
Rounds: 25
Elsie Holiday started thinking about change earlier this month, and a butterfly basket is what evolved. This wonderful creature in fall colors is nothing less than stunning. Well, what else would we expect from Elsie.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Butterfly in Navajo Traditional Stories
Butterfly: Due to the natural beauty of its wings, Butterfly is often considered vain. Yet, in Navajo mythology, Butterfly brings the sacred flint to the hooves of the horse. In the legend of the diety, Butterfly Boy was cured of his vanity by being lightning struck with the axe of Rain Boy. After that, his head opened up and out of it came the butterflies of the world. The perishable dust of Butterfly's wings is sometimes thought to prove that such beauty is usually not durable.
Navajo Changing Woman Basket - Elsie Holiday (#374)
$3,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Baskets
16 1/2" x 18 1/2" x 1 1/2" deep
Rounds: 23
The Changing Woman theme has been good to Elsie Holiday. Maybe this is because the divinely depicted goddess is based on totally positive energy. Changing Woman has the resourcefulness to absorb negative energy and redistribute it in a positive manner. Now that would come in handy! Elsie also has the ability to create something visually stimulating from raw vegetation, another gift from Mother Earth. Elsie hopes her depictions of Changing Woman will help others realize the honor and respect our worldly hostess requires to survive.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Changing Woman
These four visit Changing Woman in her home in the west and see how she changes her age and form as she passes through doors at each of the directions. She decrees her gifts to earth people Cloud, rain, pollen, dew and gives them prayersticks. She tells them that now "there is no meanness left" in her : however First Man and Woman who went east are mean, and from them will come epidemics, colds, and coughs to be cured by offerings of white corn?
Navajo Corn Basket with Lid - Elsie Holiday (#231)
$7,250.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Circumference: 37 3/4" Height: 13 1/2"
Opening: 9 1/2"
Corn is the staff of life. The Navajo people believe they were created from corn. With the aid of deity and sacred buckskin, man sprang from white corn and woman yellow. It is the most sacred of all plants and is used in every ceremony. Elsie Holiday made and dedicated this woven vessel in honor of corn and its significance to her people. This formidable yet elegant vessel is a triumph in the art of basketry, not many weavers would even attempt such a thing. Not only did Elsie attempt it, she mastered it.
Elsie Holiday
Navajo Dragonfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#404)
$2,495.00
Navajo Dragonfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#404)
$2,495.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
17" x 3" deep
Rounds: 27
If you are ever lost, lonely and thirsty in the high desert country of the Great American Southwest, find yourself a dragonfly. This is what a Navajo might do, because dragonflies symbolize life by way of water. Follow a dragonfly home and he will show you a way to survive. Elsie Holiday is well aware of the attributes this zippity-doo-daa bug represents, and she wanted to express the idea through her art. Elsie is an amazing weaver; her creativity and quality of weave are unmatched. Do yourself a favor, have a cool drink of water and entertain yourself with a dragonfly.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Water Creatures
A set of four creatures associated with water and rainfall are the main themes of two of the reproductions of Beautyway sandpaintings. These are White Water Monster, Blue Thunder, Big Otter, and variegated (or Many-colored) Water Monster ("Cloud Monster," "Land Monster"). White Water Monster lives underground, a denizen of the lower worlds, and spurts up springs, wells, and streams ("something like a whale")? More about this legend
Navajo Eagle Feathers Basket - Elsie Holiday (#417)
$1,995.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
18" x 2 1/2" deep
Rounds: 27
Elsie Stone Holiday tells us that feathers keep her in constant contact with the higher powers and help her communicate with the Holy People. She can often be found sitting in front of a small smudge fire, waving a feather through the smoke and sending-up prayers. Elsie is a visionary artist with roots of tradition in her soul. Elsie's basket is inspired by her beloved culture, which is evident in her weave.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Feathers
Feather: As a common denominator the feather figures importantly in Native American myth, method, and tribal practice. The feather is a metaphor for flight, a messenger to the spirit world. Feathers are used decoratively, as prayer symbols, and as designs of power. Attached to an arrow, the feather becomes the universal emblem of the hunt, of flight, of finding the mark? More about this legend
Navajo Elder Tree Four Seasons Basket - Elsie Holiday (#426)
$2,495.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
16" x 2 3/8" deep
Rounds: 27
Winter, spring, summer and fall, that just about covers it all. Elsie Holiday has woven a basket that embraces the four seasons in grand fashion. She is a master artist when it comes to basketry. Her quality of stitch, symmetry and design make her one of the best weavers ever. In the Navajo culture, Changing Woman (aka Mother Earth) controls the seasons and all green growing things. The Tree of Life symbolizes the Native American connection to the past, personal progress and the embracing, cultivating nature of tradition and culture. There is a whole lot of meaning woven into this basket.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Seasons & Months
The traditional Navajo year follows the rhythm of the seasons as natural, cosmological order directs specific activities associated with each month for all forms of life on earth. The year begins with Ghaaji' (October), which marks the "dividing of the seasons": hai not only means "winter" but also means "the parting of the seasons," signifying the division between winter and summer? More about this legend
Navajo Equine Colors Basket - Elsie Holiday (#394)
$2,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
14" x 16 1/2" x 3" deep
Rounds: 23
Elsie Holiday has started the latest trend in Navajo basketry once again. With her animal face series, she has pioneered a new path, one that is at once innovative and spectacular. Leave it to Elsie to knock your socks off again. This Equine basket is a winner. It might even be the Triple Crown champion.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Horse
Johano-ai starts each day from his hogan, in the east, and rides across the skies to his hogan in the west, carrying the shining golden disk, the sun. He has five horses a horse of turquoise, a horse of white shell, a horse of pearl shell, a horse of red shell, and a horse of coal? More about this legend
Navajo Eternity Face Basket - Elsie Holiday (#389)
$2,995.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
15 1/2" x 17 1/2" x 1 1/2" deep
Rounds: 26
Elsie Holiday's "Eternity Face" baskets is eerily stunning. Elsie constantly challenges herself to make better and more unusual weavings, and in this one she has outdone herself. Great colors, super weaving and an extraordinary motif combine to make this an exquisite basket.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Dine Emergence/Creation
This is a story told by the Navajo people by word of mouth to the young and old. The Navajo believe there are Five Worlds. We are presently in the fifth world. The first world was a small, dark and water filled world. It was known as the Red World where the flying insects were the first and only people. The second world was blue with the air. The spirit people here were swallows? More about this legend
Navajo From The Beginning Basket - Elsie Holiday (#421)
$1,950.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
14 1/2" x 2" deep
Rounds: 33
This wonderfully stark black and patina aged basket was woven approximately 25 years ago. It is from the Mooney collection, and had comfortably lived in his home in New York before making a temporary home here it Bluff, Utah. At least we hope its temporary. It is an early Elsie Holiday creation, which shows she has been making stellar baskets for a long, long time. We are glad to have it back at Twin Rocks Trading Post.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Dine Emergence/Creation
This is a story told by the Navajo people by word of mouth to the young and old. The Navajo believe there are Five Worlds. We are presently in the fifth world. The first world was a small, dark and water filled world. It was known as the Red World where the flying insects were the first and only people. The second world was blue with the air. The spirit people here were swallows? More about this legend
Navajo Germantown Squash Blossom Basket - Elsie Holiday (#368)
$4,375.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Baskets
22" x 3" deep
Rounds: 35
Okay, whatever superlatives you want to apply to this six petal squash blossom basket by Elsie Holiday will be appropriate. Fantastic, unparalleled, amazing? Sure. When people see it in the trading post, they are actually taken aback by its beauty. The weaving takes their breath away. That, however, should come as no surprise. Elsie has been making the best contemporary Navajo basketry for years and years. It's hot, get it while you can!
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Basketry
Basketry is a woman's industry, which is also pursued by the nadle (he changes), hermaphrodites, or men skilled in the arts and industries of both men and women. Basketry, however, is not classified with textile fabrics (yistl'o), but with sewing (nalkhad). It is of interest also that, while the basket is in progress, the sewer is untouched and avoided by the members of her family?
Navajo Interlocken Basket - Elsie Holiday (#117)
$2,500.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
Interlocken
16"
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Basketry
Basketry is a woman's industry, which is also pursued by the nadle (he changes), hermaphrodites, or men skilled in the arts and industries of both men and women. Basketry, however, is not classified with textile fabrics (yistl'o), but with sewing (nalkhad). It is of interest also that, while the basket is in progress, the sewer is untouched and avoided by the members of her family?
Navajo Patriotic Butterfly Basket - Elsie Holiday (#070)
$1,900.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Baskets
Patriotic Butterfly
15"
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Butterfly in Navajo Traditional Stories
Butterfly: Due to the natural beauty of its wings, Butterfly is often considered vain. Yet, in Navajo mythology, Butterfly brings the sacred flint to the hooves of the horse. In the legend of the diety, Butterfly Boy was cured of his vanity by being lightning struck with the axe of Rain Boy. After that, his head opened up and out of it came the butterflies of the world. The perishable dust of Butterfly's wings is sometimes thought to prove that such beauty is usually not durable.
Weaving
After the medicine woman told the people about the prayersticks she told them that there was a place in the underworld where two rivers crossed. It was called ni tqin'kae tsosi, fine fiber cotton (Indian hemp). There were two persons who brought the seed of that plant, they were spiders. They said that the people were to use the plant instead of skins for their clothing. So this seed was planted in the earth? More about this legend
Navajo Polychrome Dream Basket - Elsie Holiday (#407)
$3,975.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
21 1/2" x 5" deep
Rounds: 34
Elsie Holiday has created a dream of a basket in her latest “Dream Basket”. Taking one of her classic designs and adding a bit of red, she has gone from monotone to polychrome in the stitch of the hand. Never one to shy away from difficult designs, Elsie has mastered all aspects of contemporary Navajo basketry. A master she surely has become.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Basketry
Basketry is a woman's industry, which is also pursued by the nadle (he changes), hermaphrodites, or men skilled in the arts and industries of both men and women. Basketry, however, is not classified with textile fabrics (yistl'o), but with sewing (nalkhad). It is of interest also that, while the basket is in progress, the sewer is untouched and avoided by the members of her family?
Navajo Rainbow Man Basket - Elsie Holiday (#419)
$2,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
15 1/2" x 17 1/4" x 3" deep
Rounds: 24
Elsie Holiday is constantly probing the outer envelope of creativity. That is, of course, the reason her baskets are so innovative. Super weaving aside, she has an extremely active imagination. Just take a look at “Rainbow Man” and you will readily agree there is no other contemporary Navajo basket maker who does work like this.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
See full biography | See all items by Elsie Holiday
Related legends:
Rainbow People
Straight Rainbow People are pictured in a few sandpaintings of Mountainway Shooting Branch, Nightway, Big Godway, and Upward-reachingway. They do not differ from representations of People in general, except that they have red and blue bodies. Bent, curved, or Whirling Rainbow People are found in sandpaintings for Beautyway, male Shootingway, Nightway, Mountainway, and male Plumeway. This last one shows four Rainbow People with their bodies curved not quite to a right angle, something like the eight slightly curved Rainbow People of Beautyway? More about this legend
Navajo Solar Eclipse Basket Set - Elsie Holiday (#380)
$7,975.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Baskets
Set of 5:
Largest: 14" x 1 1/2" deep
Rounds: 22
Elsie Holiday has been studying solar eclipses lately. It is no surprise then that her latest weavings follow that theme. In this five basket set, Elsie shows us each phase if this sacred occurrence. This series is hot!
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Moon
The Navajo say that "the moon was given to the whites . . . in the beginning of life on this earth." They reason that "it belongs to the white people" because it "has a nose and mouth with a face of a white man;" also it "is like the white people's skin, transparent." ? More about this legend
Sun
The morning after their arrival the sun rises as a red glare indicating danger. Pg. 206, Flint Way.
The attack proceeds, and they fight even in the village. Two of Sun's children are killed, and Sun rises red and trembling until the perfect shell discs in which they were dressed are recovered for him? More about this legend
Elsie Holiday
Navajo Star Bull Basket - Elsie Holiday (#395)
$3,750.00
Navajo Star Bull Basket - Elsie Holiday (#395)
$3,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
17" x 19" x 3 1/2" deep
Rounds: 25
Dola is the word for Bull in the Navajo language and a Bull, to a Navajo, is quite a valuable commodity. For centuries the Navajo people have discerned their wealth by way of livestock. The more sheep, horses and cows one has the wealthier they are. To own a bull would be cause for celebration because that would mean perpetuation of the herd was assured. Elsie Holiday and her family have a small herd of cows and one feisty little, old bull. Maybe Elsie is desirous of a big, healthy bovine to help expand her brood of rangy roustabouts. Whatever the case we are happy Elsie saw fit to share her thoughts and creation with us.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Basketry
Basketry is a woman's industry, which is also pursued by the nadle (he changes), hermaphrodites, or men skilled in the arts and industries of both men and women. Basketry, however, is not classified with textile fabrics (yistl'o), but with sewing (nalkhad). It is of interest also that, while the basket is in progress, the sewer is untouched and avoided by the members of her family?
Navajo Star-light Star-bright Basket Set - Elsie Holiday (#084)
$2,750.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Baskets
12" x 3/4" deep
Rounds: 35
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Stars
The division of the year into twelve months may also have been superimposed on traditional Navajo concepts. This may be why only some of the months have specific constellations associated with them. Four of the months were said to have feather headdresses? More about this legend
Navajo Three Necklaces Basket - Elsie Holiday (#376)
$3,125.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
16" x 18" x 1" deep
Rounds: 24
Elsie Holiday has taken a rainbow of colors to make this figurative basket. Faces have become her forte, and we must face it, she is the best. When it comes to execution, there is none better.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Navajo Changing Woman
These four visit Changing Woman in her home in the west and see how she changes her age and form as she passes through doors at each of the directions. She decrees her gifts to earth people Cloud, rain, pollen, dew and gives them prayersticks. She tells them that now "there is no meanness left" in her : however First Man and Woman who went east are mean, and from them will come epidemics, colds, and coughs to be cured by offerings of white corn?
Navajo Whirlwind Polychrome Basket - Elsie Holiday (#399)
$4,500.00
Artist: Elsie Holiday
Navajo Basket
18" x 6" deep
Rounds: 32
This basket design originated from a photograph of Yellow Feather, a Maricopa Indian woman. The original image was likely taken in the late 1800s, and featured Yellow Feather posing with a wonderful weaving perched on her head. When Elsie Holiday saw the photo, she knew she would recreate the basket. In her precise style, Elsie has done exactly that and once again created wonderment. You can never go wrong acquiring an Elsie Holiday basket.
We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every purchase.
About the artist:
Considered one of the best Navajo basket weavers, Elsie Stone Holiday married into the famed Douglas Mesa family of weavers. Weaving baskets has become almost an addiction for her. "When I go two or three days without weaving I get anxious to get started again," she says. She weaves 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. "Sometimes I think, 'How long can this last?'", she wistfully states, but for now she is content with her art, finding immense satisfaction in creating premier quality baskets.
Related legends:
Whirlwinds/Breathing
After the bow and arrows of lightning were returned to the Sun, Hasjelti and Hasjohon came to First Man and First Woman and asked them what they thought about all that had happened. "What will take place now will be your plan," they said. "Yes," answered First Man and First Woman, "Now it must be our plan. We will think about it." The Sun brought a turquoise man fetish and gave it to Yol gai esdzan, the White Bead Woman? More about this legend