Navajo pottery

Turtle made in clay and sand painting.

The turtle symbolizes protection, longevity, love and knowledge (it is the mother of the earth).

One can recognize feathers, symbol of freedom, on its legs. On its shell, there is a Yei, deity at the origin of the human race. These spiritual beings have a great importance in the Native beliefs.
 

On its forehead and tail we can recognize  small feathers, symbol of freedom. On its back we see teepees, the traditional habitat of the Natives before colonization. And on both sides of his rump they are Yei figures, the deities at the origin of the human race. These spiritual beings have a great importance in the Natives beliefs. 

Here the sand painting has a decorative vocation. Made by the Navajo medicine men, sand paintings are usually produced at the center of the Hogan (ceremonial structure) in order to heal or keep away the evil spirits, to reconcile the Earth and the Sky, and to harmonize our original senses. In pigments of stone or sand of various colors, this ephemeral art of religious ceremonies takes on symbolical shapes which, following traditions, are made at dawn and destroyed before sunset.

Dimensions (H x L x W): 6,8cm x 10,5cm x 5,7cm
(2 inches 1/2 x 4 inches 1/8 x 2 inches 1/4)

Navajo creation, proudly handmade in the USA