Manuel Begay, Navajo
Sterling Silver Overlay Yei Bracelet
HK Item #BP866 - size 6"

Yei Figure

Yei is a shortened version of YeiBeiChei, a holy figure in Native American cultures. The yei figure symbolizes healing powers.

Yei petroglyphs (rock art) are found in the America Soutwest. Yei figures are often use in healing sand paintings and woven into rugs. The figures can be found depicted standing upright, curved, angled and in a three-sided square.

There are male and female yei figures. Female yei have square heads and male yei are depicted with round heads.

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What is Overlay?

Native American overlay pieces are made of two layers of sterling silver. The bottom layer is a solid piece while the top layer has a cutout design. The cutout layer is placed over the bottom layer and the two pieces are "sweated" together, heated so that they become one solid piece of sterling silver. The bottom layer, or background, that shows through the cut out portion of the top layer is often darkened for contrast.

Hopi silversmiths typically texture the background layer with hash marks while Navajo artists often leave the background smooth. Hopi artists tend to use geometric designs and symbols similar to those used in their pottery and baskets. Navajo silversmiths tend to create scenes depicting everyday life using people, animals, buildings and landscapes to tell a story - this style is called "overlay Yei jewelry". Read more about overlay here.

About Silver

100% solid silver won't tarnish but it is too soft to use for making jewelry - it could easily be scratched, dented and bent. Sterling silver has a small amount of one or more other metals usually copper, added to the silver. To be called sterling silver, the alloy must contain at least 92.5% pure silver. Sterling silver alloy is harder than pure silver but the added metals also can cause discoloration or tarnish.

Read more about silver.