Navajo Sandpainting "Coyote Stealing Fire" — Darrell Ben, COA

This is an authentic Navajo sandpainting titled "Coyote Stealing Fire," created by Darrell Ben of the Four Corners area of New Mexico and certified through Penfield Gallery of Indian Arts in Albuquerque's Old Town — one of the most respected dealers of American Indian art in the Southwest, operating since 1975 and recognized for carrying sandpaintings by the finest Navajo artists from the Shiprock and Kirtland, New Mexico area. Darrell Ben was born in the 1960s and developed his sandpainting skills under the influence of his brothers, Joe and Wilfred, and is known for precise, beautifully presented work. 

The subject draws from one of the most celebrated stories in the Navajo Creation narrative. In the legend, Coyote steals a burning torch from the sleeping Fire Keeper, Hashjeshjin, and delivers it to First Man and First Woman — Estsay-Hasteen and Estsa-Assun — who are shown near their round black hogan. A red line from the fire symbol leads to Coyote, while the white moon, a rainbow, and constellations of stars fill the surrounding quarters. Darrell Ben renders this cosmological story in the classic four-quadrant format anchored by a dark central medallion from which a white-and-terracotta directional axis extends — north, south, east, and west — each arm terminating in a bold cross motif. Coyote himself leaps dynamically in the upper right quadrant, outlined in white against the natural sand ground. The composition is populated by elaborately detailed Yei (Holy People) figures in ceremonial regalia, a Thunderbird, arching rainbow bars in teal and burnt sienna, and sun symbols radiating black and white ray-feathers. Fine white dot-work and precise linework throughout reflect the exacting hand-application technique for which commercial sandpaintings of this caliber are known — ground sandstone and minerals applied one layer at a time to a wood backing with a special glue mixture. 

The "Coyote Stealing Fire" composition is among the classic subjects that emerged as the sandpainting art form evolved beyond simple Yei figures to render full Navajo Chants and Creation narratives for the collector market. The piece is presented without glass in a solid wood frame with quadruple stepped matting — a traditional Southwest presentation format that allows the texture of the sand medium to read naturally to the eye. It is an outstanding acquisition for collectors of Navajo and Southwest American Indian art, and displays with authority in Santa Fe, Southwestern, or eclectic interiors. The piece is accompanied by its original Certificate of Authenticity from Penfield Company, Inc., signed by Ruth Ready, PhD, Co-owner, and dated June 26, 2015, mounted to the reverse along with the artist's own signature and title inscription. Please refer to the Condition section for details on the piece's current state.

CONDITION

Good. The sandpainting surface is intact with strong color saturation and no visible loss to the sand medium. Small stains are present on the matting at the top left corner and scattered at points throughout the mat borders; these do not affect the sandpainting image area. The solid wood frame shows light handling wear consistent with age.

DIMENSIONS

Overall: 24.5" × 24.5" × 1" Visible: 15.25" × 15.25"