Jonell Adams is from the he village of Sipaulovi, of Second Mesa at Hopi.  She was married to renown potter Gary Polacca, and learned to make pottery beginning in 1983.  Each piece is coil built and painted with native clays and bee-weed (black) and then native fired.  This striking bowl is a classic round form and has a carved kiva at the mouth.  The kiva is the ceremonial entrance to the religious ceremonies involving the katchinas. This piece has a ladder she has carved form wood which sits inside the square mouth.  Jonell has painted a series of seven Longhair katchinas encircling the bowl, along with a single mudhead clown katchina.  Each of the Longhair katchinas has been painted differently, so their masks and bodies and kilts are each slightly different.   The mudhead is sitting down and playing drum, to keep the time of the dancers surrounding him.  This is a fascinating piece which combines cultural elements with intricately painted designs and a well-constructed vessel.  We are excited to see more work from Jonell!

6.25"w x 5"h

$650.00

       Loren Ami - Hopi-Tewa  

The pottery of Loren Ami has a delicate balance of design and form.  His clay vessels are thin walled and stunningly proportioned.   The canteen on the left is a classic example of his pottery, with very tightly painted designs.  The use of red and white clay slips accentuate the bird tail design as the central pattern.  Loren also makes the leather strap for the canteen.   The longer neck jar in the center has a seed pattern as the design. The oval seeds are separated by a bird tail pattern.  The red is a highly polished red clay slip.  Note as well how he has used the red clay slip to polish the inside of the lip on the jar.  The canteen on the right has a bird wing pattern painted on the front.  The red areas are a polished red clay slip.  The back and handles have a unpolished red clay slip, which accentuates the polished central medallion on the front/top of the canteen.  Loren is a grandson of noted potter, Sadie Adams.  He learned to make pottery from one of the most influential Hopi potters working today, Dextra Quotskuyva.  He is certainly becoming one of the new Hopi-Tewa potters to watch, as each new piece reveals his strength as both a potter and an artist!

Left:        Canteen with Bird Tails                         7"w x 5"long x 4"h                  $1200.00

Center:     Jar with Seed Pattern                            5.5"w x 4.5"h                            $800.00

Right:      Canteen with Bird Wings                    7"w x 6.25"long x 4.25"h         $1000.00

Loren Ami - Hopi-Tewa  

Loren Ami is one of the few Hopi potters who is able to create the red clay pieces with such stunning beauty and traditional firings.  This jar has birds painted around the top of the shoulder.  There is an additional band around the side of the jar.  In this banded section there are very tightly painted birds and bird tails  The black is derived from bee-weed, which is a plant There is an additional white clay slip which is used to highlight the birds and the bird tail designs.  The jar itself is an elegant shape with a wide shoulder and a slightly turned out neck.  Loren is a grandson of noted potter, Sadie Adams.  He learned to make pottery from one of the most influential Hopi potters working today, Dextra Quotskuyva.  He is certainly becoming one of the new Hopi-Tewa potters to watch, as each new piece reveals his strength as both a potter and an artist!

10"w x 6"h                 

$3200.00

Nathan Begaye (1958-2010) - Hopi/Navajo  

This is a classic style canteen by Nathan Begaye. It was made in 2002, when he was living in Phoenix.  The canteen is fully polished and has incised rain and cloud patterns on the front.  There are additional painted lines on the front which extend across the incised areas.  The entire piece was made with a white clay and then native fired which turned it a grey coloration.  It is signed on the back in the clay.  The canteen is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Nathan was one of the innovators of Native pottery and was featured in numerous books, including "Free Spirit: The New Native American Indian Potter", "Beyond Traditions" and others. His pottery can also be found in the permanent collection of the Heard and other museums.

4"w x 4"h    

$275.00

Nathan Begaye (1958-2010) - Hopi/Navajo   

Nathan Begaye was an unique innovator among Pueblo and Navajo potters. His work used traditional designs, forms and techniques, yet somehow appeared very modern.  His ethnic connection to both Hopi and Navajo let his work flow between the two distinctive styles and yet find their own unique space.  Here are two classic pieces of his pottery.  On the left is a bowl which is very subtly a melon bowl. There are distinct but subtle melon ribs pushed out in the surface of the clay.  The design itself is a bird which is painted onto about half the surface of the bowl.  The bird has additional clay slips which have been stone polished onto the surface of the piece. The black area is derived from bee-weed (a plant) and the entire piece was native fired.  It is an striking use of form, design and color to create this distinctive piece.  The bowl on the right is a classic Navajo style Tus form, with a pointed base.  These would be made to use for cooking and the narrow base would be stuck into the ground and a fire built around the vessel.  Here has used the same utilitarian shape and painted the top with wonderful detail and small areas of stone polished clay colors.  The result has the resonance of a mosaic using clay!   Nathan was one of the innovators of Native pottery and was featured in numerous books, including "Free Spirit: The New Native American Indian Potter", "Beyond Traditions" and others. His pottery can also be found in the permanent collection of the Heard and other museums.

Left:        Melon Bowl with Polychrome Bird                    8.5"w x 4"h                $3200.00 - SOLD

Right:    Polychrome Navajo style bowl                             7"w x 4"h                   $2900.00 - SOLD

Juanita Healing was a daughter-in-law of noted potter Annie Nampeyo Healing (a daughter of Nampeyo).  Juanita was know for the unique shape of her pottery and the fine lines of her painting. This oval bowl has an old style bird design.  The coloration of the clay is nearly a beige.  Note the beautiful linear painting of the designs!  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

6.5"long x 5.5"w x 2.75"h

Rondina Huma is certainly one of the most influential Hopi potters working today.  Since her "Best of Show" award at Santa Fe Indian Market in the early 1990's, her tight style and intricately painted pottery has changed the face of contemporary Hopi pottery.   Each piece is coil built, fully stone polished and painted with native clays and bee-weed (black), and native fired.  Here are two extraordinary pieces of her pottery.  The wide shoulder jar on the left is a stunning use of various clay slips and tightly painted designs.  The top has a star pattern, with a highly polished red clay slip.  The entire surface of the bowl is fully painted and the rim has  an unusual textured and checkerboard pattern.  The smaller bowl on the right is perfectly painted with very small, tight patterns. The red areas are fully polished and the bands above and below the shoulder are fully designed with various geometric patterns.  Rondina says that she tries to not duplicate the same "shard" patterns on the same vessel!  The tight patterns have become more and more intricate and detailed in each passing year.  Rondina has won "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market, and "Best of Pottery" numerous times. Her work is consistently of an outstanding quality, with precision painting and a continual innovation of design.  Her pottery is a beautiful and visually important addition to any collection.

Left:            Flat Jar with Star Pattern                              6.25"w x 3.25"h          $9500.00

Right:         Bowl with Triangular Designed Rim        5"w x 4"h                    $6500.00

  Rondina Huma - Hopi-Tewa   

It has been years since we have had such a significant bowl by Rondina Huma. This large bowl was originally made in 2001 and she brought it to the gallery on December 30 just before the new year.  The bowl is a wonderful shape with a high round shoulder which shows off all the complicated design work.  The top has a flower pattern created out of a series of triangular designs while the bottom has an overall star pattern.  However, is the hundreds of small shard patterns which make this piece so spectacular!  The precision of her painting at that time is reflected in the numerous awards she was winning, including Best of Show at Santa Fe Indian Market.  On other interesting aspect to this bowl is that it is fully polished on the inside!  The piece is in perfect condition and a perfect example of Rondina at her very best!

9"w x 5.25"h
$21,000.00

Stella Huma (d. 1996) - Hopi-Tewa   

Stella Huma was the mother of Lydia Huma Mahle.  Stella was known for her thin walled pottery, and also her creation of all varieties of Hopi pottery, including red-ware, white-ware and the classic yellow ware.  This small seedpot is white with a black painted design. The black is derived from bee-weed, a plant. The design is a flower pattern around the top of the piece and a rain cloud design below.  It is one of the few miniatures of her work we have had in the gallery and  it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

2.25"w x 2"h

$125.00

  Violet Huma (d.) - Hopi-Tewa   

Violet Huma was from Second Mesa (Sichomovi) and was the mother of potter Anita Polacca.  She was well known for her traditional utilitarian style pottery.  This is an effigy bird, which has been beautifully formed and painted.  Figures such as this are difficult to both make and fire and are not often seen in Hopi pottery.  They were often made to be given to family members during Katsina dances, and would be filled with fruits or cookies.  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The smaller bowl on the right has a classic wind design.  Violet's work is definitely a distinctive addition to any collection!

Left:        Bird Effigy                                        11.5" long x 6.5"h x 5.5"w        $700.00

Right:     Small Bowl w/ Wind Design        3"w x 2"h                                    $100.00

       Val Kahe - Hopi  NEW

Over the past several years it has been exciting to watch as Val Kahe's pottery has evolved.  The vessels have become thinner and the designs more complicated.  Val learned to make pottery from her mother, Gloria Kahe and she continues to use native clay slips, bee-weed (black) and native fire her pottery.  The canteen on the left is fully polished and has a pottery shard pattern on the front.  Note the variety of designs used including various butterflies, moths and figurative patterns. On the right is one of her plates, which is beautifully fired!  The plate is fully polished on the front and the back.  The design is a sun face, with a spiraling feather design.  The red clay areas are fully polished and a contrast to the other surfaces and colors.  The use of traditional firing methods give her pottery a wonderful rich coloration and various "blushes" throughout.  Val is certainly one of the "up and coming" potters of Hopi and these three pieces are definitely exciting examples of her pottery!

Left:            Canteen with Shard Design                4.5"w x 4"h x 2" deep                $300.00

Right:         Plate with Sun Face Design                10" diameter                               $600.00 - SOLD

           Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa  

Steve Lucas learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  His pottery is amazingly thin walled, and each piece has a dynamic use of form and design.  Here are two classic shaped pieces of his pottery. On the left is a jar  withal  mosaic pattern painted around the entire surface of the piece.  The sections are polished red, white or painted with geometric or fineline patterns. T he base of the bowl is polished red with a water design around the base. The jar on the right is a larger piece of his pottery.  The jar has a highly polished red rim. The designs around the shoulder are a series of bird feather geometrics, encircling the jar.  The shape of the jar is based on the classic Sikyatki ware from near Hopi, with the wide, low shoulder.  The designs on this jar are intricate and elegant, and perfect how they just dip down below the shoulder!  Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market. This jar is a stunning example of his pottery and a great addition to any collection.

Left:           Jar with Mosaic Pattern                    8.75"w x 4"h             $1800.00

Right:        Jar with Bird Feather Designs        10"w x 5"h                $3000.00

        Yvonne Lucas - Laguna/Navajo    

Yvonne Lucas continues to create her own path in reviving historic Laguna pottery.  She is married to Steve Lucas, and learned to make pottery from him and his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  Here are two elegant examples of her pottery.  The bowl on the left has a narrow base and a very round shoulder.  The top and bottom are both highly polished with a micaceous red clay slip. The central area of the bowl is polished with a white clay slip and then painted with a series of traditional plant patterns.  The tall jar on the right is elegant in both form and design.  Using only black (bee-weed, a plant) to paint on the white slipped surface, she has created a series of intricate plant and flower designs.  Note the fineline patterns which accentuate the floral motif.  Yvonne is one of the only potters from Laguna still firing traditionally, and the color variations are stunning, with almost a pinkish, meringue-like cast to areas of the white.  She has won numerous awards for her work and her pieces can be found in museums around the country.

Left:       Flat bowl with Plant Designs                                      10" x 6"h             $2400.00

Right:    Black and White Jar with Flower Designs                9"w x 9"h            $2800.00

     Helen "Featherwoman" Naha (1922 - 1993) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Helen Naha learned to make pottery from her mother-in-law, Paqua Naha.  She continued with the use of the white clay slip and painted the designs using bee-weed (black) and natural clay slips. She quickly developed her own unique style of pottery with wide shoulders and flowing, inter-connected designs. Here are two classic pieces of her pottery, one early and the other one a later piece.  On the left is one of her larger jars with a narrow base, wide shoulder and slightly turned out lip.  It is from the early 1970's.  The pattern is a bat wing design, extending down from the neck to near the base of the piece.  The interior of the bat wing pattern is painted with a fine-line pattern.  Typical of much of her work, she combined intricate designs with open spacing and strong linear patterns to contrast her elegant forms.  Helen also polished the interior of all her pottery, which is a technical feat few potters try today, as it increased the potential for breakage.  The jar on the right is from the mid 1980's and includes additional clay slips in the center of the design.  This was a recent addition to her work at that time.  Here the image is a stylized star pattern which encircles the jar, but also creates a visual optical illusion that the jar has flat sides!  There is also additional imagery near the base with a rain pattern.  They are both signed on the bottom with a feather, which was her hallmark.   Both pieces are in very good condition with no restoration or repair.   She was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Rainy, Burrell and Sylvia Naha.

Left:        Large Jar with Bat Wing Design        12"w x 6"h            $3800.00

Right:     Tall Jar with Stylized Star Pattern     4.75"w x 8"h         $1800.00

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

It is always interesting when Rainy works on a new shape or new design.  These are two of her new plates, which are really shallow bowls.  They are thin walled and the backs are polished a red clay slip.  The front has a white clay slip and then the designs are painted on the surface. The bowl on the left has a a classic design of two hummingbirds.  They are intricately designed with a variety of traditional Hopi symbols making up the bodies of the birds.  The plate on the right has spiraling Sikyatki style parrots swirling around the surface.  They are intricately designed with cloud, rain and kiva designs.  All the various colors are derived from native clay slips. It is not just the complicated designs on this piece which make it so visually striking, but the open surrounding white space.  As her work is all native fired outdoor, the white is more of a pearlescent coloration and fits perfectly with the surrounding colorations.  Each piece is native fired and painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips for the colors.  Rainy continues to innovate and also create her own voice among Hopi-Tewa potters. She has won numerous awards, including "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007.

Left                Open Bowl with Hummingbirds                8"dia x 1.5"h            $1200.00

Right:            Open Bowl with Parrots                               8"dia x 2"h                $1600.00 

          Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Rainy Naha creates beautifully coiled pottery which is thin walled and traditionally fired. The white color is a white clay slip which is polished onto the surface of the clay.  Her designs are all painted using natural clay slips for the various colors, or bee-weed (a plant) for the black.  On the left is a seedpot with her classic solstice pattern.  In the sections near the opening are the various phases of the moon.  In the smaller panels below the moons are cloud, rain and traditional Hopi designs from both pottery and katsinas.  The jar on the right has her "tumbling parrot" design.  There are five parrots, which are interconnected and "tumbling" around the jar.  Why parrots? They are one of the clans at Hopi and are typically seen in katsina form and their feathers are often used in the ceremonies.  Take a look at the fifth image above and note the tan colored slip, which is a new colored clay which she has just begun to use.  It is unique for her that it can be polished and retains the brown color!  Rainy learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen (Featherwoman) Naha.  Rainy continues to innovate and also create her own voice among Hopi-Tewa potters. She has won "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007 and numerous other awards at both Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.

Left                Bowl with Solstice Design                5.25"w x 3"h                $975.00

Right:            Jar Tumbling Parrots                         4.25"w x 3"h                $850.00 - SOLD

Sylvia Naha was a daughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman) and sister of Rainy Naha.  Sylvia created pieces with the white clay polished surface painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  Throughout the 1980's, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were classic in form and amazingly intricate in design.  These two pieces are classic pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a jar with a narrow base, wide shoulder and a small neck.  The top half is painted with a lizard and corn pattern.  The area surrounding the two images is stippled with the black slip to create a textured appearance.  The bottom half of the bowl has the Awatovi star pattern, which was made famous by her mother.  The star is perfectly painted and contrasts the traditional with the contemporary on one vessel.  The seedpot on the right has two turtles, one on each side. They are tightly painted and have very intricate fineline patterns.  Between the two turtles are pottery shard patterns, again with additional fineline painting.  The colors on both are derived from natural clay slips and bee-weed (for the black).   Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and an "S".  It is certainly a classic design form this remarkable Hopi-Tewa potter.

Left:            Jar with Lizard, Corn and Awatovi Star            6"w x 4"h                    $950.00

Agnes Nasonhoya - Hopi   

Agnes Nasonhoya is a daughter of Pauline Setalla and a sister of Stetson Setalla and Dee Setalla.  Agnes learned to make pottery from her mother and also her aunt, Eunice "Fawn" Navasie.  This wedding vase is a beautiful shape with elongated spouts and the entire piece is fully polished. The design is a series of geometric designs which encircle the entire jar.  They range from a parrot near the base to wind and rain designs in the other sections.  Agnes has won awards for her pottery at Gallup Ceremonials and her pottery has been featured in various books on Hopi pottery.

6.25"w x 11"h

$600.00

Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni   NEW

Les Namingha continues to surprise us with the creativity of his work.  Each of his pieces has a distinctive use of form and design.  This jar is has an organic shape with a high  shoulder and an asymmetrical mouth.  The entire piece is fully painted with an amazingly intricate geometric and shard pattern.   The piece is entitled, "Rolling and Tumbling" and shows a dramatic flow of designs, which seem to almost be mixing together, with various design elements overlapping and connecting.  Les said of this piece, "This is another music influenced idea.  It is to express mood and a harmonious composition.  The actual elements used in the piece can be either minimalist or become a very detailed expression.  I leave it to the viewer to introduce their interpretations and feelings that come out of the piece.  The design involves a layering of rolling elements that work with each other but also clashes around the borders of their respective layers".  Take a closer look at the third and fourth images above and note the intricacy of the various design elements!  Les is exceptional in the detail and orientation of his design, giving his pottery both a modern feel yet rooted in traditional designs and forms.  The precision of his painting is certainly a reflection of his learning to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva. Les has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and other events along with being featured in numerous book on Hopi and Pueblo art.

6"w x 7.75"h

$1800.00

Les Namingha & Gabriel Paloma - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni & Zuni    

Spectacular!  This is a fantastic piece by Les Namingha and Gabriel Paloma.  This year, Les created a series of collaborative pieces with Gabriel, who is well known for his traditional Zuni pottery.  This canteen is a dynamic form, seeming to harken back to historic Zuni form. Les molded and sanded the canteen. Note there are two handles on one side and a "lug" handle on the other.  It is a wonderfully complicated form and very thin walled!   Gabriel then slipped the front of the canteen using Kaolin slip and painted the Zuni design with mineral paint and clay slips. Les then polished the back of the canteen and painted it with mineral paints.  Les also used acrylic paints to create a subtle texture on the traditional Zuni design on the front.  The last stage was adding the carved bird fetish as part of the design on the handle.  Les carved the bird Malaysian Jelutong wood which was stained with acrylic washes.  The shape and design blend seamlessly on this piece as it brings the viewer between past and present.  Les Namingha learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva.  He has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and other events along with being featured in numerous book on Hopi and Pueblo art.  He continues to be one of the dynamic innovators in Pueblo pottery!

10"w x 8.5"h

$3200.00 - SOLD

Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni   

Les Namingha has created his own distinctive style of abstract painting on his pottery vessels.  This jar is entitled, "Sling Blues" and Les says of this piece that, "This work is a composition of elements of Hopi abstract bird designs layered with lines and color patterns.  Those elements were created as I was listening to blues music and "slinging" paint!  This piece continues my exploration of being influenced by music and forming musical patterns into color designs and structure, much like music has layered structure to create harmonious tones."  It is fascinating to see how the imagery seems to glide and flow across the surface of the jar.  It is fully painted and note how the old style Sikyatki inspired parrots appear throughout the designs (image 5 above).  While he has used acrylic paints to capture his imagery, the color palette is earthy and has a very natural appearance.  Les is exceptional in the detail and orientation of his design, giving his pottery both a modern feel yet rooted in traditional designs and forms.  The precision of his painting is certainly a reflection of his learning to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva. Les has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and other events along with being featured in numerous book on Hopi and Pueblo art.

5.5"w x 6.5"h

$1200.00 - SOLD

Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni   

Les Namingha learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva.  His work has a distinctive use of form, design and space to create his flowing patterns. This jar is an early piece of his work with the use of native clay slips as opposed to much of his current work with acrylics.  The design is a stylized Hopi bird, which extends around the entire shoulder of the jar. Note the tightly painted lines and the complexity of the pattern as the jar is turned.  The bottom is a matte brown clay slip and the same slip is used around the mouth.  Les has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and other events along with being featured in numerous book on Hopi and Pueblo art.

7"w x 7"h

$1800.00

Elva Tewaguna Nampeyo (1926-1985) - Hopi-Tewa   

Elva Nampeyo was a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano. She was also the sister of Leah Garcia, Tonita Nampeyo and Iris Nampeyo.  Her children include Adelle and Neva Nampeyo.  She was not a prolific potter and her work was always tightly painted and traditional in imagery. This bowl is a classic of her style with a migration pattern encircling the piece. The lines are even and the shape is wonderful with a flat top and rounded shoulder.  The red is a natural clay slip and the black is bee-weed (a plant). The bowl has been traditionally fired.  It is in excellent condition with

no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

6.5"w x 3.5"h

$500.00

Leah Garcia was a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano.  She was the mother of Rayvin, James and Melda Nampeyo.  This is a beautiful jar with a bat wing design.  The lines on the design are tightly painted and perfectly complement the body of the piece.  The jar is in great condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

5"w x 4.75"h

Fannie Nampeyo (1900 - 1987) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Fannie Nampeyo was the youngest daughter of noted potter Nampeyo of Hano.  She was certainly among the most skilled of her generation for painting designs pottery.  It is not only the use of classic shapes, the but the finely painted lines which are indicative of her pottery.  This larger bowl is a beautiful example of her painting and pottery skill.  The bowl is beautifully formed with a very round shoulder. The design is the classic "migration" or bird wing design. The piece has been traditionally fired giving it some very stunning fire clouds.  Note the perfect execution of the lines on the design! It is signed on the bottom, "Fannie Nampeyo" and it is in very good condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   This bowl is certainly the classic design and shape from this important Hopi-Tewa potter!

9"w x 5"h

$3900.00        

Iris Youvella Nampeyo (b. 1944) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Iris is a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo.  She comes from a family of talented potters including her siblings: Tonita Nampeyo, Tom Polacca, Elva Nampeyo and Leah Garcia Nampeyo.  Iris is famous for her pottery which is highly polished and has a corn motif in appliqué on the surface.  The she is a member of the corn clan, and so has modified the imagery to use on her pottery surfaces. This bowl is one of the few pieces where she has used the traditional red colored clay.  The ear of corn is raised of the surface and the raised husk is matte . The husk then extends around the surface of the bowl.  The opening is asymmetrical.  Iris's pottery can be found in numerous books and she has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Gallup Ceremonials and other events.

5"w x 3"h

$800.00

Priscilla comes from a family of renown potters, as the great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and granddaughter of Annie Healing and sister of Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  Priscilla is also the matriarch of a family of renown potters, including Rachel, Bonnie, Nyla and Jean Sahmie.  Priscilla began making pottery when she was only seven years old, under the guidance of Nampeyo of Hano.  She was renown for her classic style of pottery with beautiful forms and traditional imagery.  Here is a large jar which is very classic in both form and design.  It is a traditional migration pattern, consisting of eight bird wings on the top and the bottom.  Note the wide shoulder, which is a very typical form for Priscilla's vessels.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Priscilla's pottery can be found in numerous books on Hopi pottery and various magazine articles in Arizona Highways throughout the years.

12"w x 7"h                   

$2800.00

Rachel was a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a daughter of Annie Healing.  She was also the mother of Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo and Elenor Lucas, Priscilla Nampeyo and Emerson Namingha.  As a matriarch, her grandchildren include Steve Lucas, Les Namingha, Jean Sahmie, Rachel Sahmie, Darlene Nampeyo, Hisi Quotskuyva and Dan Namingha!  It is not often that we come across pieces of her pottery.  Both of these pieces are in good condition and are unique interpretations of classic designs. The jar on the left has a wide shoulder with a bird wing/migration pattern.  The jar on the right has a parrot as the design on each side.  The designs are beautifully painted while the bowls are certainly much less sophisticated in form.  Priscilla's pottery can be found in numerous books on Hopi pottery and various magazine articles in Arizona Highways throughout the years.

Left:        Wide Jar with Bird Wing Pattern                 10"w x 4.75"h            $1000.00

Right:     Jar with Parrot Design                                    6.5"w x 5"h                $700.00

Joy Navasie is known for her white slipped pottery and classic use of design elements. She learned to make pottery from her mother, Paqua, who also signed with a frog as a hallmark.  This large canister is from the early 1980's and has a classic hummingbird and flower pattern.  The motif is repeated on both sides.  The deep burgundy red clay slip is typical from this time.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

7.5"w x 10.5"h

$3600.00

 Gary Polacca - Hopi-Tewa    

Gary Polacca is a son of noted potter Thomas Polacca, and continues in his father's tradition of carved and painted pottery.   On the left is a large jar which has deeply carved Hopi dancers as the main imagery.  They are holding dance wands in their hands and are surrounded by traditional Hopi designs.  Note the various layers to the carved designs and how they encircle the entire piece, leaving no area but the small neck un-carved!  On the right is one of his miniatures from the 1980's when he was first starting to make pottery.  Note the subtle coloration of the clay slips and the complexity of the carved and incised designs!  The figure is an Ahola Katsina, and take a closer look at how he carved and rounded out the feathers on the headdress.  The entire piece is fully designed with alternating carved, incised and painted imagery.  Both pieces are striking vessels by this talented potter!

Left:        Tall Jar with Figures            7"w x 9.5"h                $900.00

Right:     Small Jar with Katsina        2"w x 3.25"h               $250.00

Laura Preston (d.) - Hopi-Tewa   

Laura Preston is one of the group of Hopi potters from Walpi who began making pottery in the early 1970's.  This bowl has classic bird and rain patterns as the design.  It is in very good condition

 with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

6"w x 5.25"h

$250.00

Hisi "Camille" Quotskuyva - Hopi Tewa     

Hisi is the daughter of Dextra Quotskuyva and the sister of painter Dan Namingha.  She learned to make pottery from her mother and creates tightly painted and traditionally designed pottery.  This bowl is unusual with the use of a "mottled" clay for the structure of the piece. Steve Lucas has also used a similar mixture of clay on some of his pottery.  The bowl is only polished to just below the shoulder. The area around the top is painted with a star pattern which has a red polished clay slip which has small bits of mica in the clay.  At the end of each of the star tips are finely painted cloud patterns.  Turning the bowl over, it is matte (unpolished) and the variations in the mixture of the two clays can be seen.  Hisi's pottery is such a wonderful reflection of the history and influence of the Nampeyo family on Hopi pottery.

4.75"w x 3"h

$700.00 - SOLD

Dextra Nampeyo Quotskuyva (b. 1928) - Hopi Tewa    

Dextra is a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, descending through her eldest daughter, Annie Healing.  For almost forty years she has been one of the most creative, innovative and influential potters at Hopi. Dextra has been the subject of a book and exhibition at the Wheelwright Museum, entitled, "Painted Perfection".  These two jars are from the 1990's and are stunning examples of her intricately painted pottery.  The jar on the left has a Sikyatki inspired bird on one side, and a hummingbird on the other.  They are both perfectly painted with tight, thin lines.  They red clay slip is has a bit of mica which gives it a very slight sparkle.  The flow of the design and the shape are a reflection of how perfectly  Dextra designed her pottery for the shapes.  The jar on the left has an unusual design with a "prayer feather" pattern. There  are three white prayer feathers as part of the design. The geometric shapes next to them are representative of the feathers in Hopi symbolism.  Note as well the various colors, as this is one of the few pieces where she used the mauve colored clay slip along with the red polished clay.  The jar itself is thin walled and perfectly polished and the designs flow with an elegance around the entire surface.  Both pieces are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Dextra's work is certainly the foundation for contemporary  Hopi pottery.

Left:            Jar with Birds                            5"w x 4"h                     $5000.00 - SOLD

Right:         Jar with Prayer Feathers          5.75"w x 3.5"h             $4800.00 - SOLD

Dee Setalla - Hopi   NEW

Dee Setalla is a son of noted potter Pauline Setalla and the brother of Stetson Setalla, Gwen Setalla and Agnes Nasonhoya.  He learned to make pottery from his mother and Eunice "Fawn" Navasie.  This a classic shape with a wide shoulder which creates the perfect shape for his complex painting.  The bowl has a very intricate series of panels which he has painted at an angle.  The imagery consists of prayer feather, bird tail, snow and rain patterns.  Note as well how the designs have been highlighted with red, burgundy and white clay slips!  The jar is traditionally fired with some slight blushes to the color. He has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Indian Fair and been featured in books on Hopi pottery. 

10"w x 3.5"h

$600.00

      Mark Tahbo - Hopi-Tewa   

Mark Tahbo learned to make pottery from his great grandmother, Grace Chapella.  His pieces reflect the wonderful symmetry and thin walls of an excellent potter. The designs are painted using native clay slips and bee-weed (a plant) for the black.  The bowl on the right is a classic Sikyatki shape with a wide shoulder and narrow in height.  The piece is from 2005 and the design is a a parrot and plant pattern.  On two sections, there are polychrome parrots.  On the other two sections which have plant designs in a medallion.  The bowl has been traditionally fired and it is a beautiful coloration from the fire clouds.  Note the thin, elegant lines of the painting and how Mark left lots of "open space" in his designs so that the coloration from the blush would show through.  The seedpot on the right is from 2001 and was traditionally fired a deep orange color. The design has two traditional butterflies or moths as the part of the pattern. The use of these moth images are always a tribute to Grace Chapella, as it is a design that she made famous.  The other sections are a bird tail and mesa pattern.  The bowl is perfectly painted and the coloration is striking.  Mark has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and Gallup Ceremonials.  His pottery is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay" and "Collecting Authentic Indian Art".

Left :       Wide Bowl with Parrot Designs      10"w x 4.5"h           $1600.00

Right:      Seedpot with Butterflies                  6"w x 3.5"h             $900.00

It is not often that we see such a technically creative and innovative piece!  This is a set of two tiles which Mark has carved so they set into each other creating an "eight-sided" tile!  The final two images show the four different images on the tiles.  They are katsinas along with a sunrise, heart and frog.  When put together they create a fascinating group of images telling a variety of Hopi stories and legends.  In the first group there is the frog and the sunrise, both part of creation. The second group is an old style katsinas.  In the third group there is one of the runner katsinas and Hopi, part of the games that go on during the Hopi katsina dances.  The tiles fit together perfectly and are perfectly painted with amazing detail.  Note as well the native firing and the variety of colors to the clay. This is something for which Mark is famous.  Mark has won numerous awards for his pottery and is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay".

6.25"w x 4.5"h

$500.00

What a wonderfully formed and painted jar by Mark Tahbo, a great-grandson of Grace Chapella.  The jar has a classic shape with a narrow base and wide shoulder.  The designs combine two different elements in Hopi pottery.  One two sides (images 1 and 3 above) are Hopi birds, painted in circles.  The birds are overlapping and connected.  On the opposite two sides are stylized koshari clowns. The banding of their headdress are seen above the shoulder.  One has its hands down, the other up.  On the loin-cloths there are painted a flower on one in mauve clay, and a moth on another (a tribute to Grace Chapella).  Typical of Mark's pottery, the firing brings the form and design to life. The deep, rich fire clouds race across the vessel, highlighting the shoulders and the circles of the birds.  Inspired and elegant!  Mark Thabo has won numerous awards for his pottery and continues to be one of exceptional traditional innovators of Hopi pottery!

12"w x 6"h

$2000.00

Hopi Pottery  __________

Preston Duwyenie - Hopi   NEW

Preston Duwyenie is renown for his simple yet elegant pottery.  He is from Second Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.  Here are two of his classic pieces of pottery.  On the left is a black micaceous clay seedpot.  The surface is rag polished with a micaceous clay slip, which is applied in three layers.  It is traditionally fired using manure to turn it black.  The lid is cast in silver from cuttlefish bone and then Preston makes it into a stopper for the seedpot that fits perfectly into the top of the piece. The plate on the right is a white clay from Hopi.  It is fully polished on the back and on the front it is carved with his "shifting sand" design.  This piece has a very tight pattern and there are two inset pieces of silver, again cast from cuttlefish bone.  Both pieces are signed with Preston's hallmark, which is a woman carrying a child on her back.  Preston has won numerous awards for pottery, including "Best of Show" at the Heard Indian Market.  

Left:        Black Micaceous seedpot with silver lid                            2.5"w x 2"h                            $400.00

Right:     White oval Shifting Sand Plate with 2 Silver Insets        7.25w x 6.75"h x 1" deep     $750.00

Preston Duwyenie - Hopi  

This is a simple but elegant small plate made by Preston Duwyenie.  It is made from a white clay found near Second Mesa in Hopi.  It is fully polished on the front and back.  There is a single inset piece of silver in the surface of the clay. He casts the silver from cuttlefish bone and then cuts it to the correct shape and then insets it after the vessel is fired.  The silver pieces are meant to represent either the shifting sand around Hopi, or a lake or water.  Take a closer look at the silver piece above and the tight ripple design! Preston Duwyenie is from Second Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.Preston has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at the Heard Indian Market.  

3.5" diameter

$200.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi   NEW

This new jar from Al is made using the traditional reddish colored clay from Hopi.  The jar is a beautiful shape with a stone polished surface. The rim is asymmetrical with an elongated rim.  There are two ears of corn in repousse (pushed out from the inside). The corn is matte and then textured to have a realistic appearance.  The corn is a symbol of prosperity in Hopi culture and this style of corn is similar to that on the work of his aunt, Elizabeth White.  The jar is a beautiful balance of form and design.  Al is from Third Mesa and his background in engineering is reflected in his pottery and delicate yet surprising forms his pottery is able to achieve. Al has won numerous awards for his pottery and been featured in books such as "The Art of Clay".  His work can be found in museums nationwide and continues to be an exciting addition to any collection!   

5"w x 6"h

$2100.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

This lidded jar combines pre-historic concepts in a modern presentation.  The jar is fully polished and on one side there is a Sikyatki inspired Butterfly Dancer.  The figure is in repousse or pushed out of the clay from the inside (it isn't applied to the surface of the clay!).  Note the crisp precision of the figure in image four above. The tight curves of the dress, the detail in the hair and the sash around her waist are all perfect!  The opposite side has a two classic pre-historic style door ways which can be found in ruins throughout the Southwest. The two doorways have been overlaid on each other creating a larger "T" doorway.  Behind the opening Al has incised and carved a pueblo wall and added additional clay colors for the "bricks".  The contrast of colors is subtle but elegant.  The flow and symmetry of this jar is a testament to the varied skills of the renowned potter!  Al has won numerous awards for his pottery and been featured in books such as "The Art of Clay".  His work can be found in museums nationwide and continues to be an exciting addition to any collection! 5.5"w x 8"h (w/ lid)

$4500.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

This is an amazing wedding vase from Al Qoyawayma.  It is coil built and the walls are thin and the entire piece is fully stone polished.  There is a single design on the piece which is a Hano Mana katchina in repousse.  While clay is still wet and Al is finishing the coiling, he pushes the design out in the clay.  Here the face is matte to contrast with the polished surface of the vessel.  Overall the shape of the wedding vase is quite elegant with sculpted spouts and a very thin handle.  This vessel shows how Al continues to redefine the notions of traditional Hopi pottery.  He is from  Third Mesa and a nephew of noted potter Elizabeth White.  His background in engineering is reflected in his pottery and delicate yet surprising forms his pottery is able to achieve.  Al has won numerous awards for his pottery and been featured in books such as "The Art of Clay".  His work can be found in museums nationwide and continues to be an exciting addition to any collection!   

10"w x 17"h

$6500.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

Tradition made modern is the inspiration for this polychrome jar which is entitled, "Finding Ourselves".  Al says that his idea for the carved polychrome pieces was derived from thinking about where Hopi or Sikyatki pottery would have evolved had there never been any European influence.  The overall designs range from birds to corn motifs and cloud patterns along with migration lines. The shape is based on the pre-historic forms from the Sikyatki ruins near Hopi.  Their pottery was famous for their wide, low shoulders.  This jar is beautifully constructed and the entire top of the surface is fully carved into the clay.  Where Al has achieved something which is beyond virtually every other potter is the "painterly" use of the clay slips to accentuate his carved designs.  Note in the fourth and fifth images above how the clay colors meld into one another and get lighter and darker in different areas. It is amazing that he can polish them and have them achieve such a dramatic appearance!  It is a visual feast for the eyes in person! Al has won numerous awards for his pottery and been featured in books such as "The Art of Clay".  His work can be found in museums nationwide and continues to be an exciting addition to any collection!   

12"w x 6"h

$14,500.00

While living at Santa Clara Pueblo, Harrison Begay, Jr. learned to make Santa Clara style carved and polished pottery. While many of his earlier pieces utilized Santa Clara imagery, today, his designs are focused on Navajo and petroglyph patterns. Here are two distinctive pieces of his pottery.  On the left is a beautifully shaped wedding vase. Note how the bowl is very round and the spouts are small just at the very top of the vase.  The entire surface if fully carved with geometric patterns.  Harrison polishes most of the designs, but leaves some matte so that they create a visual contrast between the carved areas.  The spouts and handle are both fully polished.  The jar on the right has a wide shoulder and small neck are beautifully formed. Around the shoulder of the jar are a series of geometrics, from cloud, wind, star, sun and wind patterns.  They vary from polished to matte surfaces.  Above them are a rounded cloud pattern and then a star pattern.  Take a moment to view the third image above and note the high shine of the polished surface on this jar!  Harrison has won numerous awards for his work and continues to be one of the leading innovators in Native American Indian pottery.

Left:            Black Carved Wedding Vase               7"w x 7.5"h         $2000.00

Right:         Jar with Petroglyph Designs                7"w x 5"h            $900.00

    Alice Cling - Navajo    

Alice Cling is renown for her mastery of form in contemporary Navajo pottery.  She was certainly pivotal in the evolution of Navajo pottery from folk art to fine art since the 1990's. Her perfectly balanced pottery seems to hover on a narrow base and gracefully rise to amazing heights only to be accented with a wide shoulder.  Here are two distinctive pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a canister shaped jar with a cut-out rim.  The shape of the rim is made to represent the mesas in the Southwest. The jar on the right is one of the larger pieces we have had in a while from Alice.  It is an unusual shape with a high, round shoulder and a sloping rim.  It is beautifully fired with a deep, rich red coloration that varies to nearly black.  The color variations are derived from the native firing as the smoke touches the clay and creates the darker areas.  After the firing, each piece is covered in pine-pitch, a continuation of the traditional Navajo pottery when pitch was used to make the pieces water proof.  Alice has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "Legacy of Generations".

Left:        Jar with Cut Out Rim                                   4.5"w x 7"h           $400.00

Right:     Large Jar with High Shoulder                    8.5"w x 10"h         $800.00

 Samuel Manymules - Navajo    

Samuel Manymules has brought traditional Navajo pottery to a new level of elegance and complexity.  Each vessel is coil built, burnished and native fired.  The various colors, from black to red or brow, are all derived from the outdoor firing.  After each piece is fired it is covered in pine pitch, which was traditional for Navajo pottery.  This stunning jar on the left has a series of "facets" or ribs, which are pushed out in the clay.  Samuel began making these flatter, and over time they have become more pronounced and angular.  This jar has a fantastic form, with an elongated neck and slightly turned out rim.  The sharp shoulder is a perfect complement to the sharp edges of the facets. The jar on the right is an elegant for with a narrow base and wide shoulder.  He has carved a double rainbow band around the shoulder of the piece. Take a closer look at the image and note how he has polished the jar at an angle, so it has a swirl to the surface, which is further accentuated by the firing.  Samuel has won numerous awards for his stunning pieces at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.

Left:        Tall Faceted Jar                8"w x 9.25"h                $1725.00 - SOLD

Right:     Wide Shoulder Jar          8"w x 7"h                     $900.00 - SOLD

Christine Nofchissey McHorse - Navajo     

Christine McHorse has taken the traditional micaceous clay and transcended its utilitarian dimension and to create stunning sculptural vessels. Each piece is hand coiled from the micaceous clay near Taos, NM.  This allows her to create her distinctive forms.  Her pottery is also traditionally outdoor fired which adds to the difficulty and also creates the beautiful coloration.  This large vessel is a complex shape is reminiscent of a flower,  which rises up from the bottom and the pushes in on itself to create the bud coming out of the top of the jar.  The hole in the side is hollow up to the opening and the area around the top of the "bud" is a rough micaceous clay.  The remainder of the piece is perfectly rag polished to give a near-metallic appearance to the micaceous clay slip.  Christine is one of the only potters to win Best of Class at Santa Fe Indian Market for her clay work in both the pottery and sculpture categories.  While Christine is Navajo, she learned to make pottery form her mother-in-law, Lena Archuleta (Taos).  She has received numerous awards at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market. Her work can also be found in museums such as the Heard Museum, the Denver Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and others.  She has also been featured in numerous book, including “Free Spirit”.  It is not often that we get in contemporary pieces of her pottery and they certainly a delight to the eye!

8"w x 16"h

$18,000.00

     Christine Nofchissey McHorse - Navajo    

Christine McHorse has long been one of the great innovators in traditional style Navajo pottery.  While her contemporary work has evolved using micaceous clay and creating some elaborate forms, her early pottery utilized more traditional Navajo styles.  This beautiful bowl is very thin walled and made from native clay. The lid fits perfectly and has a sculpted wolf and buffalo as the imagery.  The lid has been covered with pine pitch, which is traditional in Navajo pottery.  The variation in the colors with and without the pitch is evident in the lid and the bowl itself.  Christine has won numerous awards for her pottery and is featured in numerous books, including "Free Spirits".

8.5"w x 7.75"h

$2000.00

     Wallace Nez (b. 1972) - Navajo

Wallace Nez is one of the young innovators of Navajo pottery.  Taking inspiration from the detailed realism of potters such as Joseph Lonewolf, Wallace has created his own unique voice in the sgraffito style.  His pieces are made from native clay and the designs are precision etched into the surface of the clay.  The elegant seedpot is larger in size and has two realistic medallions, one etched with a bear and the other an eagle.  There are butterflies besides each of the animals.  Connecting and surrounding the animals are a series of feather and geometric patterns.  Take a look at the third image above and note the complexity of the delicate design cut into the clay!  As the jar is turned over the bottom reveals a traditional Navajo wedding basket design etched into the clay. Each of the coils of the basket is rounded out and then precisely cut into the clay, giving it a near realistic appearance.  His work is simply amazing for the size and its intricacy.  Wallace has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Indian Fair and other major events.  He continues to be one of the young innovators to watch!

3.5"w x 2"h

$1800.00

Ida Sahmie - Navajo  NEW

Ida Sahmie brings life to traditional Navajo ceremonies in her unique pottery.  All the clay and materials are gathered from Navajo land.  The pottery is all coil built, stone polished and painted with natural clays and native materials and native fired  This is one of the largest pieces of her pottery we have had in years.  It is the Night Dance with male and female Yei-bi-chi dancers encircling the jar.  The background area is fully painted with bee-weed (a plant) to make it black.  In the center image above is the fire around which the dancers are circling.  It is a wonderful attempt to create a "3D" story on the vessel!  Take a closer look at the fourth image above and note how Ida also incises into the clay for the faces and the bodies, leather and masks.  She was a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.

6.75"w x 9.5"h

$3600.00

Lorraine Williams - Navajo   NEW

Lorraine Williams is one of the great innovators among Navajo potters.  She has created her own unique style of pottery, which is incised with traditional rug and Navajo designs, then painted and native fired.  After the piece is fired it is covered in pine pitch, which is typical of all traditional Navajo pottery harkening back to when it was utilitarian.  This is a traditional long neck water jar with her typical low shoulder.  The design is a rug pattern which starts near the base of the jar and encircles the piece up towards the neck.  The designs are painted with clay slips before the piece is fired.  The coloration of the clay is derived from the outdoor firing.  Lorraine has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "A Legacy of Generations". 

6"w x 9.25"h

$300.00