Marie Sellers
Midnight Storm
44" W
x 60" L
This is without a doubt the
finest rug we've ever had. Its size is impressive enough, but
when you take into consideration the elaborate and detailed design,
this weaving is second to none.
Marie Sellers is from the
Page area of Arizona, and is well known for her Storm Patterns
and Bird Pictorials. Before Bill Malone left the Hubbell Trading
Post, they were the only outlet for her rugs. She is also a relative
of the well-known multi-color Storm weaver, Lily Touchin.
Because this variation is
a depiction of the Midnight Storm, it was especially meaningful
to us. Many of our weavings used to come from the nearby Dinnebito
area of the reservation (known for their black backgrounds -
which are difficult and rare). We are one of the few galleries
and trading posts that have encouraged this style and have offered
it over the years.
Perhaps the most compelling
feature of this particular weaving is the very fine white outline
that follows the edge of nearly every design within this rug.
Not only is the outline prominent, it is also very tight - straight
and clean. Most weavers will not attempt this unless they are
expert since it will inevitably reveal their mistakes. But if
you look closely here, you will find none.
This really is a magnificent
rug! It's always difficult to photograph something with so much
detail that it will do it proper justice.
It is said that the Storm
Pattern originated from the Crystal region in the early 1900's
- some say that it came from the Tuba City area.
It is a popular design and
one of the few Navajo rugs that tells a story. According to Navajo
mythology, man and all living things came into this world from
the underworld through the Lake of Emergence, symbolized by the
central design in these rugs.
The squares in the four corners
represent the Navajo's four sacred mountains. The lines connecting
the center to the four corners represent lightning bolts which
carry blessings back and forth between the mountaintops, bestowing
good spirits on the weaver and her household.
The small triangles with arms
are called water bugs.
