Sadie Adams (1905-1995) - Hopi-Tewa  

Sadie Adams was an amazingly creative and detail oriented potter of her time.  The mother of Lorna Lomakema, she was also a niece of Paqua Naha (Frogwoman), and a cousin of potters Patty Maho, Lena Charlie and Irene Shupla.  Sadie was renown for her classic style pottery and the use of traditional designs.  This bowl is made from the red clay and painted with bee-weed (black) to create the modified bird and cloud patterns.  This bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is some slight wear to the black on about one-third of bowl.  It is certainly a classic example Sadie's pottery using the red clay.

7"w x 4"h

$475.00

Dorothy is a cousin of Mark Tahbo, and learned to make pottery from him.  Over the past several years, her work has continued to grow with more tightly painted designs and more intricate forms.  Here are two striking pieces of her pottery. The jar on the left has a medallion on one side with quail and the other side with a bat.  The area connecting the two is a checkerboard pattern in black, while there is a checkerboard pattern in red above the shoulder.  The inside of the mouth of the jar has a matte mauve slip.  The piece on the right is one of the first wedding vases we have had from Dorothy!  It is painted on one side with a bird tail design, which emphasizes the beautiful form of the piece.  The opposite side is vertically polished and left plain to contrast the designs on the opposite side.  Two outstanding pieces from this up and coming potter!

Left:            Jar w/ Quail & Bad                5"w x 7.5"h               $375.00

Right:         Wedding Vase                       4.5"w x 7"h               $400.00

Eleanor Ami is the grandmother of  potter Loren Ami.  These two pieces are both from the early 1970's.  Her pottery focused on very traditional design elements and utilitarian forms.  This canteen has a classic shape with a flat back and a rounded front where it is painted.  It is interesting to see a form which her grandson, Loren, has revived with such a passion.  This canteen has a cloud and rain pattern as the design.  This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

7"w x 6"h

$350.00

Eleanor Ami (d.1980) - Hopi-Tewa   

Eleanor Ami is the grandmother of  potter Loren Ami.  These two pieces are both from the early 1970's.  Eleanor's pottery focused on very traditional design elements and forms.  Both pieces are ladles, which are always technically difficult to make. They are painted with geometric patterns around the bowl part of the ladle.  They are both in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Left:        Ladle                            7" long                  $125.00

Right:     Ladle                            6.25" long             $100.00

Loren Ami - Hopi-Tewa    NEW

The pottery of Loren Ami has a delicate balance of design and form.  His clay vessels are thin walled and stunningly proportioned.  This jar is a phenomenal example of his abilities as a potter.  The narrow base rises up to a wide shoulder and then gracefully slopes to the out-turned lip. The design is a classic eagle tail design, encircling the shoulder the jar.  The inside of the neck is fully polished with a red clay slip.

 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!

6"w x 3.75"h

$1600.00

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.  The focus in his pottery is the revival of historic Sikyatki patterns.  This jar is made from Hopi clay which comes from two different areas around First Mesa. It is interesting that the clay used for this piece doesn't hold the smoke as well, so it has less intense coloration.  The jar has a seed and bird tail design.  Note as well the inside of the lip and the beautiful polishing with red clay, which has a bit of mica, so that it seems to shimmer.  The graceful form and balance of his design make Loren's pottery among the finest being made at Hopi today.

5.5"w x 4.5"h 

$1400.00

Grace Chapella is one of the true matriarchs of Hopi-Tewa pottery.  Much in the same way as Nampeyo of Hano or Paqua Navasie, she revived old designs on her pottery.  She also lived more than 100 years, both teaching and inspiring several generations to make pottery.  Her most famous descendant is Mark Tahbo, who often uses her designs on his pottery.  This is one of the largest pieces of her work we have had in years.  In addition, it has her most classic design, the butterfly pattern, which is surrounded by a mesa design.  It is very exciting to come across one of her pieces, especially in such great condition!  This bowl was made in the early 1970's and the previous owners acquired it during the 1974 Seven Families Exhibition.  This bowl is in great condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely an important piece to add to any collection of Hopi pottery.

10.5"w x 4"h

$3600.00

Kathleen Dewakuku  has been making pottery since 1960 and is the mother of potter Lorraine Choyou.  Her work amazingly thin walled and beautifully painted Hopi pottery.  The jar on the left has a tightly painted geometric pattern. The black is derived from bee-weed while the polished red is natural clay slip.  The jar on the right has a fully painted design with geometric patterns and a fineline mountain design around the shoulder. 

Left:        Jar with Wide Shoulder            4"w x 3"h        $250.00

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

This is an early bowl from Rondina Huma.  It was made in the early 1990's. While the squares of her designs are larger, the basic concept of her work is similar to her current pottery. The designs are bolder and dynamic in their appearance.  This bowl is distinguishable in time because it is only painted in black (bee-weed).  The design around the neck is a mesa pattern in an "L" shape, highlighted with stippling. 

As with all of her pottery, the inside of each bowl is also fully polished, which is always technically difficult and increases  the risk of breakage.  Take a closer look at this bowl, as the clean lines of the design against the strong coloration of the clay is simply elegant!

6"w x 4"h

$2900.00 - SOLD

Rondina Huma has continued to take her "shard" design concept, and make it tighter and more complex each year.  Her work is always an elegant blend of form and design.  This jar has a slightly turned out lip and four linear bands extending from the neck.  Note how much space is designed on this piece, it is amazing!  The jar has intricately designed patterns all the way to the base.  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.

5.5"w x 4.75"h

$7200.00

Few potters have had an impact on their art like Rondina Huma.  The intricate style of her painting has influenced numerous Hopi as well as Pueblo potters.  While she has created a unique style, she also continues to evolve.  This jar has a fully painted body while the neck is simply the polished clay.  In the

painted area, the entire surface is fully designed with small geometric pattern, none of which is repeated on the entire vessel!  In her pottery, the red and burgundy areas are natural colored clays.  In each small section of the red, it has been stone polished to a high shine!  The black throughout the piece is derived from bee-weed, which is a type of wild spinach. One of the truly elegant aspects of this vase is how she left the rim of the mouth the natural clay color.  The beautiful contrast of the clay with the intricacy of the designs creates and even more dynamic appearance!    The time involved in creating her works is certainly a reflection of how few pieces she makes each year.  Rondina has won numerous awards for her work, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Take a closer look at each of the above images, as the delicate painting and intricate designs are certainly among the finest pottery being made today!

6"w x 5"h

$8800.00

     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 two smaller bowls to the right have classic imagery. One has a wind design while the other has a cloud pattern.  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

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

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

Darlene James Nampeyo - Hopi-Tewa   

Darlene is a daughter of Ruth James Nampeyo.  She learned to make pottery from her grandmother, Rachel Nampeyo and her aunt Dextra Quotsquyva.  Darlene is known for her figurative pottery and her tightly painted designs.  This is one of her tiles, with a classic Hopi design.  The pattern is a Pueblo style home with the clouds overhead bringing rain.  The black is derived from bee-weed and the red is native clay. 

6" long x 4.25"w

$100.00 - SOLD

Gloria Kahe - Hopi/Navajo   NEW

Gloria Kahe is known for her tightly painted, very classic Hopi designs.  This open bowl is made from the red clay, which is considered more difficult to work with than the typical clay which fires the buff color. The bowl has a series of geometric patterns painted in black from bee-weed (a plant).  They are enhanced by areas which are painted with a red clay slip, which is a subtle variation from the red of the body of the bowl. 

Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.

9"w x 4"h

$800.00       

     Val Kahe - Hopi   NEW

Over the past year 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. The seedpot on the left is a new design, which combines various bird wing patterns.  They fully encompass the top of the seedpot and the balance of the polished red clay slip against the black designs is striking.  The jar on the right is taller in form and beautifully polished.  The design here is a combination of  feather and bird wing patterns.  The encircle the shoulder the of the jar and leave the neck and base the natural clay color.  These pieces are fired traditionally outdoors, so there is a slight "blush" coloration to the clay, further enhancing the designs.  Val is certainly one of the "up and coming" potters of Hopi!

Left:        Seedpot with Feather Pattern                5.5"w x 3"h        $500.00

Right:     Jar w/ Feather & Bird Wing Design     6.5"w x 5.5"h      $700.00  

Val Kahe - Hopi   NEW

Val Kahe is the daughter of noted potter Gloria Kahe and granddaughter of potter Marcella Kahe.  She began making her own style of "shard" pattern pottery over the past several years.  In each new piece she seems to challenge herself on form and imagery.  The designs are placed in a very linear manner on the jar.  While she began with seedpots, she has evolved into larger sizes and more complicated shapes.  This large jar is beautifully formed with thin walls and a perfectly polished surface.  Take a moment to view the second image above and note the intricacy of the design! Each design is meant to be different, pulling imagery from a variety of traditional Hopi sources, such as katsinas, jewelry and pottery.  The various designs are stunning when placed together on one piece. They are painted onto the jar with "bee-weed", a plant which is harvested each year and used for the black on the pottery.  This is certainly and outstanding piece from one of the "up and coming" potters of Hopi!

9.5"w x 6.5"h

$1600.00

Jacob Koppee - Hopi-Tewa   

Jake is certainly one of the most innovative and exciting Hopi-Tewa potters working today.  Jake Koppee is a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, through his grandmother, Marie Koppee.  He continues the family legacy of dynamic visuals and elegantly formed pottery.  This large seedpot has a classic Hopi form with a wide shoulder and small mouth.  The design is an eagle tail pattern on the top of the bowl.  Note the intricacy of the designs and the fine line painting!  The red sections are fully polished and a beautiful contrast to the matte of black (bee-weed) designs.  Jake has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show"  at Santa Fe Indian Market and "Best of Show" at the Heard Museum Indian Market!

10"w x 4"h

$2400.00

Alton Komalestewa - Hopi-Tewa   

Alton is a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano.  He learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law, Helen Shupla (Santa Clara).  His work has always been a balance of Santa Clara style and yet they have the thin walls and feel of a Hopi vessel.  This jar is a new piece of his work and it is has a classic wide shoulder appearance of a Hopi jar, yet it is fully polished.  The coloration is a brownish red.  It is a stunning piece in color, form and weight.  Alton is masterful at creating pottery forms which not only feel  great holding it in your hands, but also use the light to emphasize the form.

12.5"w x 6"h

$3000.00

    Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa   

Steve Lucas learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva.  His designs and fine line painting are certainly reflective of her style of pottery.  Here are two fascinating and unusual piece by Steve.  The bowl on the left has an bird tail and wing design.  The piece is from 1994 and the design covers about 2/3 of the vessel, with the rest fully polished with a beautiful fire cloud.  What makes this piece so unique is the color of the clay slips!  There is a polished brown and red clay as part of the design and also a matte mauve colored clay!  It is only in Steve's earliest work that he used some of these unique clay slips.  The tile above was done in about 1998 for our gallery show featuring Hopi tiles.  It is the first (and maybe the only) tile Steve has ever made. The front is fully polished and painted with a bird surrounded by a geometric pattern.  The back side is fully slipped with a red clay and then speckled with clay slips.  Here are definitely two pieces by this premiere potter that reflect his talent as a potter and painter!

Left:      Bowl w/ Bird Tail Designs            4.25"w x 3.25"h            $1200.00

Right:   Tile w/ Bird Design                        5"w x 3.25"w                 $500.00 - SOLD

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa   

Steve Lucas is exceptional not only with his use of form, but also with his use of design.  This bowl is perfectly formed and thin walled. The design is a star pattern which encircles the top part of the bowl.  It is painted in black (bee-weed, a plant), red clay slip and a white clay slip.  Looking down from the top there is a beautiful symmetry to the pattern on the form.  Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  His work continues to be among the most sought after of Hopi potters.

7"w x 4"h

$1500.00

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa   

This is an exciting variation in form from Steve Lucas.  The jar has an asymmetrical rim yet the shoulder and design is symmetrical in presentation.  The design is a series of geometric bird wing patterns which encircle the piece. They extend down from the shoulder.  The red area are a native clay slip which is highly polished.  It is not often that we see taller pieces from Steve, yet the shape and design flow beautifully together!  Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  

7"w x 7.5"h

$2800.00

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa    

This jar is an unusual piece for Steve Lucas.  The shape of the jar has a high shoulder and the area from the rim to the shoulder is polished.  The designs are very tightly painted birds, highlighted with a red clay slip.  The area below the shoulder has been left matte and then mottled with dots.  The intention is to have the surprise of the matte area against one's hands when the piece is picked up.  It is exciting to see Steve explores area of the pottery beyond design and also focus on the physical aspects of the work.  Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market!

9"w x 7.5"h

$3000.00

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.  This is a larger piece of his pottery, and certainly one of the more complicated designs!  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.

10"w x 5"h

$4000.00

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa  

This is an early piece from Steve Lucas.  It  was made in 1993, and received a second place award from Santa Fe Indian Market.  The bowl is a striking example of his pottery skill, with thin walls, amazingly intricate designs and a beautiful blush to the firing!  Steve's designs have greatly evolved from this piece, and yet it is stunning how he used so many traditional design elements to create a very dynamic bowl.  It is certainly apparent why almost a decade later he would win "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market!

6"w x 4.5"h

$2000.00

Yvonne Lucas - Laguna/Navajo    NEW

Yvonne Lucas is married to Steve Lucas, and learned to make pottery from him and his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  Her pottery is based on traditional Laguna Pueblo designs, many of which she has revived by studying historic pottery at the School of American Research.  As well, each of her vessels is native fired and they use all native clays!  This is a striking jar with a central flower medallions as the main pattern. The rim and base are both fully polished red while there are additional brown slipped areas.  Note the complexity of the fineline patterns on the leaves encircling the medallion!  This is a jar which shows how perfectly an artist can blend form and design!  As the piece is also native fired, the coloration in the white areas on this jar are nearly opalescent.  The thin walls further enhance the feel of the bowl and the intensity of the design!

8"w x 7.5"h

$3200.00

Yvonne Lucas - Laguna/Navajo    

Yvonne Lucas continues to create her own path in reviving historic Laguna pottery.  This large water jar is among her most intricate, with only black (bee-weed, a plant) painted on a white clay slipped surface.  The designs are a series of plant and flower patterns.  They are enhanced by fineline pattern and the beauty of the coloration from the firing. 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.  Yvonne learned to make pottery from her husband, Steve Lucas and Dextra Quotskuyva.  She has won numerous awards for her work and her pieces can be found in museums around the country.

9"w x 9"h

$4000.00 - SOLD

Paqua "Frogwoman" Naha (1890-1955) - Hopi-Tewa    

This unique piece is a first for many reasons here at the gallery.  Over the course of twelve years, this is one of the first pieces we've had by Paqua Naha.  It is also one of the first ash-tray's we've had as well! Paqua Naha was as pivotal a potter in many ways as Nampeyo of Hano.  Paqua signed her pottery with a frog hallmark and was a matriarch of a whole family of renown potters.  This unique piece is made with the red clay and painted with geometric designs.  Note on the bottom, there is a portion of the original sticker, from the Hopi House at the Grand Canyon!  This is truly an unique and unusual piece, with both the signature of Paqua and the sticker.  This dates the piece from around the 1910 - 1920.  It is in very good condition, but with a couple of chips on the rim.  However, it is structurally sound with no cracks or restoration. This is definitely one of those very unusual, exciting pieces to come across, even if the form is an ash-tray!

5.25"w x 1.5"h

$300.00

     Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Over the past several years, Rainy Naha has leapt ahead with each new body of work.  The vessels continue to have thinner walls while the painting and the designs more intricate and unique.  Rainy hand coils each piece and then applies a white clay slip which is stone polished.  The designs are painted onto the clay with bee-weed (black) and natural clay slips.  The pottery is then fired outdoors in the traditional manner, which is why the white on her pieces often has such a beautiful pearlescent coloration.  The jar on the left has a wonderful form, with a high, round shoulder. The design is a classic eagle tail pattern descending from the neck.  All the different colors are various clay slips.  Note as well the intricately painted sections which make up the overall eagle tail pattern and the placement of the design which emphasizes the shape of the jar.  The second piece is a canister shaped jar with a Pahlik Mana Katsina (Butterfly Maiden) on each side.  Note the intricacy of the designs in the tablita (headdress)!  Rainy was inspired to paint this imagery after seeing an early Sikyatki jar  in the Museum of Northern Arizona with a similar figure.  The figure has a wonderful balance of traditional two-dimensional style painting with a sense of movement in the arms and feet.  Rainy has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market, including "Best of Pottery" at the 2007 Santa Fe Indian Market.  She continues to be one of the visionaries of contemporary Hopi pottery.

Left:        Jar with Eagle Tail Design                6.5"w x 6"h        $1500.00 - SOLD

Right:     Canister with Butterfly Maiden       5"w x 6.75"h      $1800.00

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   

Rainy Naha learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen Naha (Featherwoman).  Helen was inspired by the excavations at the Awatovi ruins in the 1930's.  The pottery from this area near Hopi was black designs on a white background.  The "Awatovi Star" pattern is one which is most closely associated with Helen and one which Rainy does infrequently, but always in honor and deference to her mother.  We have been asking her for a while to make a piece with this classic design, and it has been almost a year since the last one!  This flat bowl is thin walled and very tightly painted.  The top and bottom have the star pattern.  Inside the star are a series of fine-line patterns and outside are cloud swirls.  One the side of the bowl is an "eternity belt", connecting the designs on the top and bottom. Rainy has most recently won "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007 and continues to create some of the most delicate, thin walled and intricate pottery among active Hopi potters!

9"w x 4.25"h

$2500.00

Sylvia Naha was a daughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman).  Sylvia continued her pottery in a similar style, with a white polished surface and painted designs.  In the 1980's, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were unusual in form and amazingly intricate in design.  This small jar from the mid-1980's, reflects her work at its zenith.  Note the highly polished surface, the tightly painted, intricate designs.  There are two lizards on this jar, the backs of each are filled with pottery shard pattern, segments of designs seen on other Hopi pottery.  Sylvia won numerous awards for her pottery.  This jar is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

3.5"w x 3.5"h

Les Namingha is a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, and learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  His work has always been finely made in form, and intricately painted in design. This is a stunning piece of his work, using native clay but painted with acrylic paints.  The area above the shoulder has flowing designs which are intricately painted onto a white background.  They utilize a variety of traditional Hopi geometrics.  The area below the shoulder has more bold "shard" patterns.  They are accented by additional colorations and geometrics.  The bowl is a wonderful size, and striking in the complex balance of traditional and contemporary designs.  Les has won awards at events such as the Heard Museum Indian Fair, and he is also one of the leading young innovators in Hopi and Native pottery!

9.5"w x 8"h

Lawrence Namoki is well-known for his carved Hopi pottery. Typically his work has the designs of different styles of katsinas.  This seedpot has a Kwahu Katsina or eagle dancer.  The design is etched into the clay and then highlighted with native clay slips. Lawrence has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.

3"w x 3.5"h

Carla Nampeyo is a daughter of noted potter Thomas Polacca.  This is a beautifully etched miniature with a Broadface Katsina as the design. The remainder of the piece is a polished brown clay slip.  It is always amazing to consider how much detail it is possible to achieve on such a small piece!

1.5"w x 2.25"h

$150.00

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   

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.  This is a wonderful small bowl with a classic migration pattern as the design. The migration pattern is meant to represent the migration of the people around the world.  This bowl is a unusual form, with a sharp shoulder and a flat top.  However, typical of her work, it is very tightly painted with designs, and beautifully fired!  This bowl is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is not often that we find such wonderful smaller pieces by Fannie with such intricate designs and in such great condition!

6"w x 2.5"h

$1200.00 - SOLD

             Iris Nampeyo - Hopi-Tewa  

Iris Nampeyo is a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo, and a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano. She is currently the oldest living member of the Nampeyo family.  Since the early 1980's, she been making jars with corn designs in relief.  Here are three very distinctive styles of her pottery.  The first jar has a corn in relief, with the husk encircling the shoulder and neck of the jar.  Note the beautiful coloration of the clay from the firing! The second bowl has the "mauve" or purple colored clay slip.  It is a clay which is difficult to find and even more difficult to polish! The slip has to be filtered several times to get out all the impurities to make it useable to be polished.  The coloration, however, is unlike anything else from Hopi.  It is a beautiful color on an elegant form.  The third jar is one of her miniature, which has been fired a beige color.  This is a "classic" look for her pottery, with the corn in matte against the polished surface.  Iris's pottery can be found in museums nationwide and each piece of her work is a dynamic testament to symbolism of nature in art, as the corn represents prosperity in Hopi culture.

Left:              Corn Jar w/ Fire Clouds   4.5"w x 4.5"h            $1500.00 - SOLD

Center:         Mauve Corn Bowl            3"w x 3.5"h                $1800.00

Right            Beige Corn Jar                    2.25"w x 2.25"h        $500.00 -  SOLD

     James Nampeyo - Hopi-Tewa   

James Nampeyo is a grandson of Fannie Nampeyo and a son of Leah Nampeyo.  The focus of his pottery has long been the use of traditional designs and classic forms.  These two jars are outstanding examples of his pottery.  The jar on the left has a migration pattern as the design.  The jar on the right is a classic eagle tail with a highly polished neck. 

Left:        Jar w/ Migration Pattern            6"w x 4.25"h                $450.00

Right:    Jar w/ Eagle Tail Design             5.25"w x 4"h                $450.00

   Priscilla Nampeyo (b. 1924) - Hopi-Tewa  

Priscilla Nampeyo is a sister of Dextra Quotskuyva and a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano.  She is known for her tightly painted and very classic style of pottery.  Here are two small bowls, each with a migration pattern and made from the two different Hopi clays.  The migration pattern is meant to tell the story of how the peoples migrated around the world, and the use of all the fine intersecting lines are part of that legend.  The first piece is a smaller bowl, also with a migration pattern but on the red clay.  The second piece is a miniature of her pottery with the migration pattern, but painted using the white clay slips.   Both are wonderful examples of her pottery and a reflection of how she is able to take a classic image and give it a new appearance on each piece! 

Left:            Red Bowl with Migration Pattern               2.25"w x 1.5"h     $100.00 - SOLD

Right:         White Clay Bowl with Migration Pattern  2.25"w x 2"h        $100.00 - SOLD

Agnes is the sister of Stetson Setalla, Dee Setalla and the daughter of Pauline Setalla.  She is known for her creative shaped pottery and classic designs.  On the left, this wedding vase is a very traditional form for her and the designs encompass almost the entire surface of the vase.  The clay color of the wedding vase is unusual with a pinkish tone to the clay.  It is a great contrast to the black and red slipped sections of the design.  The canteen on the right has a wide shoulder and old-style hummingbirds painted on each side.  The red is a natural clay slip which is in contrast to the black (bee-weed), which is derived from a plant.  The handles of the canteen have a leather strap, which Agnes has also made for this piece.

Left:        Wedding Vase        6.5"w x 11"h        $600.00

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

Veronica learned to make pottery from her husband, Maynard Navasie, and her mother-in-law, Joy Navasie (Frogwoman).  After Maynard passed away Veronica stopped making pottery for several years.  However, she has returned to the clay under the guidance of her niece, Rondina Huma.  Veronica's work has taken a new turn with intricately painted designs on beautifully made pots.  This bowl is a stunning example of her work, with a feather pattern around the neck. The body of the bowl is a series of swirl designs, each with a variety of traditional geometric patterns.  The red area are polished clay slip, while the black is bee-weed (a plant) and the bowl is traditionally fired to create the coloration.  We are excited to more pottery of such a high caliber from Veronica!

5"w x 3.25"h

Garnet Pavatea was one of the non-Nampeyo family innovative potters of the 1970's.  She was probably best known for her corrugated red-ware pottery.  However, she also made beautifully painted traditional style Hopi pottery. The jar on the left has a classic geometric pattern with cloud and rain designs.  The bowl on the right has a bat wing pattern, extending down from the rim to the base.  Note the fine-line pattern as they encircle the bowl!  Both pieces are from the early 1970's and are in great condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The jar on the left has some slight rubs in the black painted areas, which is often typical of pieces this age.

Left:        Jar with Geometrics            3"w x 4"h            $150.00

Right:    Bowl w/ Bat Wing Design  6"w x 3"h            $350.00

Gary Polacca - Hopi-Tewa    NEW

Gary Polacca is a son of noted potter Thomas Polacca, and continues in his father's tradition of carved and painted pottery.  This large jar has deeply carved Hopi dancers as the main imagery.  They are holding dance wands in their hands and 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 uncarved!  This jar is a beautiful example of the pottery by this talented potter!

7"w x 9.5"h

$900.00

Lloyd Polacca - Hopi-Tewa    

This bowl by Lloyd Polacca was made in 1972.  It is definitely unusual for the time, as only a couple of men were making and designing pottery at that time. The bowl has a cloud pattern on the rim, extending outwards.  The colors are derived from different clay slips and bee-weed (black).  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a unique and a part of Hopi pottery history!

8"w x 3.5"h

$175.00

Thomas Polacca was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and he was one of the first male potters to both make and design pottery at Hopi in the 1970's.  This bowl was made in the late 1990's and is typical of his work from that period in terms of design and coloration.  The jar is deeply carved and has a Longhair katsina on one side and a Hano Mana on the other.  Each figure is surrounded by additional feather and bird patterns, which are carved into the clay.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

4.5"w x 5.5"h

Bernadette Poleahla - Hopi   NEW

Bermadette Poleahla is the granddaughter of noted potter, Frieda Poleahla.  Her work has been an exciting new addition to the gallery over the past year.  After she showed us a picture of one of her "shard" pots, we asked her to try something larger and this was the result!  This jar is amazing in form and balance, as the base is only 1.5" across! Note the symmetry of the vessel and the roundness of the form, which is always technically difficult to achieve in this shape.  The jar itself is fully designed, with a variety of images taken from pottery designs, clan symbols and katsina masks.  There are numerous different katsinas featured in the shards, including the Sunface, Qooqole, Butterfly Maiden and others.  Note as well that the sections vary from matte to polished surfaces.  There are also area where she has incised the design into the clay!  The variety of  techniques adds to both the feel of the piece and also how the light hits each section.  The jar has been native fired outdoors, creating a beautiful coloration in contrast to the detail in the designs.  We definitely look forward to more work from this outstanding "up and coming" potter!

9"w x 10"h

$2800.00

Bernadette Poleahla - Hopi   NEW

Each piece from Bermadette Poleahla is a wonderful balance of form and design.  This jar has a wide shoulder sloping to a small neck, creating a perfect space for her "pottery shard" design.  The colors are all natural clay slips.  Each section has a different style of pottery image, clan symbol or katsina mask.  The variety of the designs and the placement of the colors create a striking visual patchwork.  While some areas are polished, other are matte and some of the designs are etched into the clay. The native firing has added a slight blushes to the overall coloration and depth of beauty to the entire piece.  We definitely look forward to more work from this outstanding "up and coming" potter!

6"w x 4"h

$700.00

Laura Preston (d.) - Hopi-Tewa   

Laura Preston is one of the group of Hopi potters from Second Mesa who began making pottery in the early 1970's. Their work is often much more varied in design than that of the pieces from First Mesa at the same time.  This is a large bowl with bird designs in two of the panels, and designs that almost appear Zuni inspired in the other two panels.  The bowl is from the early 1970's and it is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There are some black-ish colored fire-clouds near the base.

10"w x 8"h

$600.00

Dextra Quotskuyva continues to balance her elegant forms with intricately painted designs.  This jar is simply a phenomenal piece of her pottery on every level possible!  The vessel itself is thin walled and highly polished.  The design of the bird tail and the wings encompasses about half the vessel, while the remainder is plain.  However the firing has created beautiful blushes which complement the form and design.  However, it is the intricacy of the design which is signifies the Dextra's name.  The tight, thin lines, the placement of the designs, delicate imagery of the eagle tail and wings.  The use of the red clay slip to highlight the designs is then balanced with the red slip just on the inside of the lip. Elegant and dynamic. Dextra has won numerous awards for her pottery and been the subject of an exhibit at the Wheelwright Museum and a book on her art.

6.5"w x 4.25"h

$5800.00

Dextra is certainly one of the most influential potters working today, having taught not only her daughter, Hisi, but also Steve Lucas, Yvonne Lucas, Les Namingha and Loren Ami.  Each piece of her pottery is unique, as she rarely repeats a design.  This is a large seedpot with a small base and very round form.  The design on the top is a bird wing pattern.  Take a closer look at the above image, and note the use of the greenish blue colored slip!  She has only used this on a few pieces over the past year and it creates a stunning visual effect!  The bowl itself is perfectly polished and this is definitely one of the larger pieces of her contemporary pottery with a design that is in perfect balance to the form!  Dextra has been the subject of a recent exhibit at the Wheelwright Museum in Santa Fe, and her work is always a wonderful blend of traditional themes with her own sense of design.

8"w x 4.5"h

$9000.00 - SOLD

Jean Sahmie is a daughter of noted potter Pricilla Nampeyo. She his renown for her use of innovative designs on traditional forms.  This jar is a fantastic example of her work, and one of the most complicated we have seen!  The jar itself is beautifully formed and a difficult shape to create, with such a round body and thin walls.  The design around the neck is a diamond shaped pattern, and there are four birds encircling the bowl.  Below them are a series of traditional design elements.  The four hands represent the four directions and the lines around them are the migrations of the people around the world.  Looking at the bottom of the vessel it is stunning to see how the imagery almost has the appearance of a weaving!  Jean is amazingly creative and has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market. This is definitely an exciting direction for her work, both in complexity and composition!

11"w x 8"h

$3600.00

Jean Sahmie is a daughter of noted potter Pricilla Nampeyo. This jar is a wonderful example of her classic style of pottery.  The form of the jar is elegant, with a slightly turned out lip.  The design is a series of four traditional style birds encircling the piece. There are polished red and matte burgundy red clay slips emphasizing the body of the bird.  Note the native firing, which has created the beautiful coloration to the clay! Jean has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.

4.5"w x 3.5"h

$400.00

Rachel is a daughter of noted potter Priscilla Nampeyo.  She is known for her beautifully formed and painted pottery.  This wedding vase is a striking piece by this outstanding potter.  Take a closer look at the painted design, as the migration pattern is always difficult to paint, and yet it seems effortless on this vase.  The form is also her own, with a wide shoulder and long necks on each side.  Rachel's pottery brings together the individuality of the artist with the strength of the Hopi traditional designs.

8"w x 12"h

$1100.00

Mark Tahbo is a great-grandson of noted potter Grace Chapella.  His graceful form complement the intense firing on his pottery.  Mark was one of the first in the early 1990's to utilize the blushes on his traditional firings as part of the "design" and not just a background effect.  His plainware pottery shows how he is able to fire piece with an intensity of heat that few other potters are able to achieve!  This elegant long neck jar has deep blushes from white to dark orange.  Typical of his work, the firing and the polishing are perfect.  Mark has won numerous awards for his pottery and is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay".

5"w x 6.5"h

$1000.00 - SOLD