Karen Abeita - Hopi-Tewa/Isleta     NEW

Karen Abeita is well know for her delicately painted pottery.  She learned to make pottery from Mark Tahbo and Fawn Navasie.  She also spent several years traveling and working with Rondina Huma.  This jar is amazing with incredibly detailed as she has fully painted it with a pottery shard design.  Each of the miniature sections is painted with a design as if she had collected pottery shards and placed them together to make the jar.  Note how they interlock and how she even painted on the inside of the rim! Each of the shard pattern is also separated by a very thin incised line.  It is just breathtaking how she was able to paint with such precision on such a small piece!  Karen uses all native material on her pottery including native clays and bee-weed (black) and also traditionally fires her pottery. She has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Indian Market and other events.  Her pottery can also be found in various books on Hopi pottery, including Hopi-Tewa Pottery" and "Beyond Tradition".

2.5"w x 3.5"h                

$650.00     

Sadie Adams (1905-1995) - Hopi-Tewa     NEW

Sadie Adams was famous for the variety of her pottery shapes along with her intricately painted designs.  Each piece was coil built, painted with bee-weed and native clay slips and traditionally fired.  She was a cousin of potters Lena Charlie, Irene Shupla, patty Maho and a niece of Paqua Naha (Frogwoman).  She also taught her daughter Lorna Lomakema to make pottery.  Her Tewa name meant "Flower Woman/Girl" and so each piece is signed with her hallmark on the back, a flower.  These two tiles are both from 1976 and were part of the annual Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi show. Both tiles are fully polished on the front and back and are painted with old style linear Katsina figures.   The tile on the left is a Butterfly Katsina and note the intricacy  in the design of the tablita!  The tile also has a first place ribbon from the event.  The tile on the right has a Shalako Katsina as the design and again there is an intricacy to the painting on the tablita.  Both pieces are signed on the back and both are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  They are certainly and beautiful example of her pottery and painting skill and part of the great legacy of the Museum of Northern Arizona and it's promotion of Hopi pottery.

Left:        Tile with Butterfly Maiden Katsina/Ribbon       5" x 6"        $850.00

Right:     Tile with Shalako Katsina                                       5" x 6"        $750.00

      Loren Ami - Hopi-Tewa  

Loren Ami 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.  His pottery continues to be inspired by traditional Hopi designs and forms. Each piece is coil built, painted with native clays (red) and bee-weed (black) and outdoor fired.  The jar on the left has two old style birds as the design.  The shape is elegant with the narrow base, wide shoulder and slightly turned out neck. Note as well how the inside of the rim is also fully polished with a red clay slip!   The jar on the right is one of his larger pieces with a wonderful rounded body and a slightly flaring neck.  The neck is very thin and polished with a red clay slip on the inside.  The design on the bowl are the red tail hawk tail feathers.  The begin at the neck and extend down over the rounded shoulder. Note the red clay slip has just a bit of mica in it so that it sparkles.  The black is derived from bee-wee, a plant.  As both pieces are traditionally fired, there are great colorations to the clay, with strong blushes on each.   Loren 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:        Jar w/ Old Style Birds                    5.5"w x 3.5"h                  $900.00          

Right:     Jar with Eagle Tail Design            8"w x 4.5"h                     $1500.00  - SOLD

Nathan Begaye (1958-2010) - Hopi/Navajo   NEW

Nathan Begaye was a unique innovator among Pueblo and Navajo potters.  His ethnic connection to both Hopi and Navajo let his work flow between the two distinctive styles and yet find their own unique space.  His work used traditional designs, forms and techniques, yet somehow appeared very modern.  The tile on the left is from 2000 and was made for a "Hopi Tile" show that we had here the gallery.  The lizard is painted on a polished white clay surface and the colors are all natural clay slips.  The black is bee-weed and note the tightly painted fineline designs. Nathan used a piece from a broken vessel to create this "shard" which he wanted to look like an ancient piece that had just been found.  There is a little bit of wear on the black and some minor spalling, which adds to the feel of the piece being "old".  Note on the back the rust colored area below the signature, that was where he put some caliche clay he found here in AZ and he wanted to see what color it would fire.  The plate on the right is a phenomenal piece of his work from 1991.  It is polished on the back to a tan/peach coloration. The front is white clay but unpolished.  The design is a classic pre-historic Sikyatki style design with the horizontal "sky band" across the plate.  Below the sky band are the bird tails and above are the two curved bird heads.  There is one bird on the right which is upside down.  Take a closer look at the last image and note how the painting has a "fuzziness" to its appearance.  This is from painting on the matte surface and how the clay absorbed the slips more quickly.  However, it was intentional as Nathan was experimenting at this time to create pieces that looked like the ancient lignite (coal) fired pottery from Sikyatki. The result is truly spectacular as it has many of the same visual characteristics of the lignite fired pottery.  Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The tile has some fugitive black and small areas of spalling.  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:               Tile with Polychrome Lizard           9"w x 7"h               $900.00

Right:           Plate with Sikyatki Birds                  10.75"w x 2.25"h    $2600.00    

    Nathan Begaye (1958-2010) - Hopi/Navajo   

Nathan Begaye was a 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 stunning pieces of his pottery.  The jar on the left was made in 2000 and it was entitled, "Polacca" by Nathan, symbolizing the Polacca polychrome pottery which was made before the Sikyatki revival work of Nampeyo.  This jar has a typical shape seen in Polacca polychromes and a simple stylistic design which Nathan modified to make it more intricate and dynamic.  The jar was first slipped with a white clay and then he created a stunning visual contrast of the polished slips against the white background. The tall jar on the right was made in 1999 has a red clay slip and the designs are geometric wind and rain patterns which are outlined in white.  Take a closer look at the images above and note the amazing complexity of the painting and the balance of design and form.  Nathan would seek out various colored clay slips and then stone polish them on his pottery.  Each piece was also traditionally fired.  Both pieces are 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.

Left:               White Jar with Geometric Pattern          7.5"w x 5.75"h         $3000.00

Right:            Red Jar with White Outline Designs    4"w x 7"h                 $2800.00 - SOLD

Grace Chapella (1874-1980) - Hopi-Tewa 

Grace Chapella is one of the great Hopi matriarchs of the last century.  She was the sister of Laura Tomosie and Dalee, the mother of Alma Tahbo, and the great grandmother of Mark Tahbo and Diana Tahbo.  She led a remarkable life, becoming the first Hopi to fly in an airplane in 1927 and living over a century (107 years!).  She grew up living next door to Nampeyo of Hano, who was fourteen years old.  It was Nampeyo who taught her to make pottery.  Grace revived designs from the Sikyatki ruins at the base of First Mesa and it is the classic butterfly or moth pattern for which she is the most famous.  This bowl on the left is from the 1970's and reveals all the classic elements of her pottery.  The shape is a wide shoulder with a flat top and the designs are painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  The design is a series of moths next to three triangular patterns, which are meant to be the three Hopi mesas.  The cross pattern are representative of stars.  The bowl is signed on the bottom, "Grace Chapella". It is in very good condition with no chips, restoration or repair.  There is some wear on the surface and there is a slip crack which can be seen on the inside of the bowl, but does not extend to the outside.   The bowl on the right is a smaller version of the butterfly or moth pattern with two of her classic moths and the Three Mesas.  The bowl is beautifully fired and it is signed on the bottom, "Grace C". 

 Grace's pottery can be found in numerous books on Hopi pottery along with pieces in museums such as the Denver Art Museum, The Heard Museum and others.  It is not often that we come across such classic pieces of her pottery, but they are certainly a testament to the history of Hopi culture and pottery.

Left:            Flat Bowl with Butterflies            10.5"w x 4"h          $2800.00

Right:         Bowl with Butterflies                    6"w x 3"h               $800.00 - SOLD

   Preston Duwyenie - Hopi  

Preston Duwyenie is renown for his elegant pottery which is often highlighted with silver medallions.  The bowl on the left he has entitled, "Red Mesa".  The bowl has a carved rim which is meant to appear as a mesa from the distance. The bowl itself is made with micaceous clay and then slipped with the red Santa Clara clay and mica. The result is a stunning coloration which is a very deep red!  There are four small inset pieces of turquoise in rectangular form.  They are almost like the small windows seen in the pre-historic cliff dwellings as they appear on this vessel!  There is something both modern and ancient about this striking piece!   On the right is his classic 'shifting sands" jar.  The shape of the jar is inspired by the pre-historic Sikyatki pottery near Hopi, which had a wide shoulder and narrow mouth. This piece is made from white clay from near Second Mesa. The sand design is carved into the clay so that it have a very natural appearance.  There is certainly the idea that it is shifting and moving.  There are three large pieces of silver which he also casts against cuttle-fish bone.  That creates a similar style of shifting sand design to complement the clay.  Take a moment to view the third image above and note how tight the lines are on the piece!   Preston is from Second Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.  He is married to pottery Debra Duwyenie and now resides at Santa Clara Pueblo.  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:        Red Mesa Bowl with  4 Silver Insets                                10"w x 8.5"h            $2500.00

Right:     Jar with Shifting Sand Design and 3 silver insets         10"w x 4"h               $1950.00

Rondina Huma has certainly been 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 from between 2006 -8. On the left is a bowl which is fully painted on the outside and also polished on the inside!  There is a shard pattern around the neck, and then the "mountain" design below.  The remainder of the bowl has a triangular pattern in dark red clay which is filled in with additional shard designs.  The larger jar on the right is a stunning use of her designs on a very distinctive shape. The wide shoulder and small neck create the perfect shape to show the complexity of her designs.  Around the neck is an eternity belt pattern.  Looking down from the top and bottom there is a spiral swirl star as the main design painted in the red clay. The various sections are filled in with smaller shard patterns until the entire piece is fully decorated!  Amazing!  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:            Bowl with Triangle Design, Shard Pattern                     4.5"w x 3.75"h            $3600.00 - SOLD

Right:         Jar with Swirl Star Pattern in Red, Shard Pattern          6.25"w x 4.5"h            $9500.00

   Violet Huma (1930 - 1982) - Hopi   

Violet Huma is one of the group of potters from Second Mesa at Hopi who began making pottery in the 1960's and 70's.  The forms were often more traditional shapes, such as this piki bowl.  This open bowl is painted with bee-weed (black) and clay slips and native fired.  Note the beautiful coloration of the bowl from the traditional firing.  The designs are classic bird and rain designs. It is only the interior of the bowl which is designed while the exterior is plain. The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

9.5"w x 3.5"h
$450.00

Val Kahe - Hopi    

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.  This seedpot is a wonderful round shape and has classic Hopi rain and cloud designs as the overall thematic.  The bowl is tightly painted and has a even coloration from the firing with small areas of blush.  Val is certainly one of the "up and coming" potters of Hopi and these three pieces are definitely exciting examples of her pottery!

5"w x 4.25"h          

$500.00

Jacob Koopee, Jr. (1970 - 2011) - Hopi  

Jacob Koopee was the great-great grandson of Nampeyo of Hano, great-grandson of Nellie Nampeyo Douma, grandson of Marie Koopee and the son of Jacob Koopee. Sr and Georgia Dewakuku Koopee. He is also the nephew of Dextra Quotskuyva who inspired much of his pottery.  His pottery was innovative in the designs and the creative in the precision of his painting.  Here are two of his smaller pieces from the late 1990's. The seedpot on the left has a tightly painted eagle tail pattern on each of the four sections.  The red clay areas are polished in contrast to the black and create birds heads which bend around to the left of each tail.  The piece was traditionally fired and has beautiful coloration.  The seedpot on the right has a classic design of two hummingbirds around a central flower.  The center of the flower incorporates the opening of the bowl.  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  They are each signed on the bottom, "Koopee" with a flute player; one in bee-weed (black) and one in the clay.  Jake won numerous awards during his career including "Best of Show" in 2005 at both Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.  I was lucky to have been a pottery judge both years at both events, and it was exciting to see an artist create such dynamic work.  His pieces can be found in museums around the country and his innovative style of painting continues to set his work apart among other potters.

Left:        Seedpot with Eagle Tail Designs                6"w x 2.75"h            $1400.00

Right:     Seedpot with Hummingbirds & Flower    6"w x 3"h                 $1400.00   - SOLD  

   Jacob Koopee, Jr. (1970 - 2011) - Hopi  

Jacob Koopee had an artistic eye for creating pottery which created an intimate connection of form and design. This narrow jar has tall shoulder and an asymmetrical neck.  The entire piece is fully polished and painted with bee weed (black) and native clay slips for the various colors.  There the imagery blends to the shape with a Butterfly Maiden holding two parrots encompasses the front of the jar. The Butterfly Maiden in this two-dimensional liner style can be found on historic Hopi pottery with various katsina images. However, it is the two parrots in her hands which gives the piece a greater stylistic connection to the Awatovi Murals, which were near Hopi.  Note the intricacy in the design on the maiden's tablita as well as in each of the parrots. There is not just the red and burgundy colored clays, but he has also used some mauve colored clay and all the colored areas are stone polished!  The jar was traditionally fired to create the light blushes on the surface.  The piece is signed in bee-weed on the bottom with a flute player and "Koopee".  The jar has a narrow base and a high shoulder, so we had a stand made for it so that it would not have a chance to fall and the "arms" are coated in plastic so they won't scratch the surface.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Jake was a great-great grandson of Nampeyo of Hano, great-grandson of Nellie Nampeyo Douma, grandson of Marie Koopee and the son of Jacob Koopee. Sr and Georgia Dewakuku Koopee. He is also the nephew of Dextra Quotskuyva who inspired much of his pottery.  Jake won numerous awards during his career including "Best of Show" in 2005 at both Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.  I was lucky to have been a pottery judge both years at both events, and it was exciting to see an artist create such dynamic work.  His pieces can be found in museums around the country and his innovative style of painting continues to set his work apart among other potters.

4"w x 9.5"h         

$3500.00 - SOLD

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa  

Steve Lucas is one of the truly exceptional Hopi-Tewa potters working today.  His pottery is all coil built, intricately painted with bee-weed (black) and highlighted with white and red clay slips. The red is distinctive as it is stone polished and contains small bits of mica which reflect the light.  Each piece is traditionally fired.  Steve is renown for his use of traditional Hopi and Sikyatki designs, but has taken them a step forward, reworking the patterns into new and more complex designs.  The bowl on the left has a red polished lip and a red tail hawk pattern which is painted on the surface.  The design is repeated four times on the bowl and creates a very modern appearance when looking down from the top.  The small bowl in the center is very tightly painted with s series of Hopi style birds and bird wings.  There is a striking blend of designs which all flow perfectly together.   The bowl has great coloration in the clay from the traditional firing! The bowl on the right is a classic style with a stylized Eagle Tail pattern as the design.  The bowl has a sharp shoulder and the designs are perfectly painted with Steve's usual precision.  The bottom is slipped with a red clay and polished.  The traditional firing has  created very light blushes on the surface.   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.   Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.

Left:        Bowl with  Red Tail Hawk Designs      5"w x 3"h                   $800.00 - SOLD

Center:   Jar with Hopi style Birds                         3.75"w x 2.5"h           $600.00

Right:     Square Bowl with Eagle Tail Design    5.5"w x 2.75"h           $900.00 -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.  This large jar has a tightly painted eagle tail design around the area above the shoulder.  The design is a classic Hopi patter which Steve has modified giving it a more graphic and linear appearance.  The black is bee-wee (a plant) and the red and white are additional clay slips.  The red polished areas have a bit of mica in the clay which gives them additional sparkle.  Below the shoulder it is plain with a red polished base.  The shape is elegant with the narrow base and sloping 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 8.5"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 jar on the left is a beautiful shape with a narrow base and wide shoulder.  There is a slight turn out to the rim of the jar.  The design is a complicated triangular pattern in red around the neck and shoulder and a checkerboard pattern around the sides.  There is an alternating plant pattern that interconnects with the checkerboard section.  The red areas are stone polished and the black is bee-weed (a plant).  The jar won a 2nd place at Santa Fe Indian Market in 1998.  The bowl on the right  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.  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:       Jar with Floral and Rain Patterns                        10.5"w x 8"h        $2600.00

Right:    Flat bowl with Plant Designs                               10" x 6"h              $2000.00

Garrett Maho (b. 1976) - Hopi-Tewa   

Garrett learned to make pottery from his grandmother Marilyn Mahle and aunt Gloria Mahle.  His pieces are all coil built, stone polished and native fired.  This double lobbed jar is based on some classic Hopi pieces which were initially two separate pieces and then evolved into a single vessel.  The jar is fully polished and it is undesigned. However, it is the shape and the variations in color from the fire clouds which make this piece so stunning!  Note how the color flows from dark orange to nearly white.  It is a unique form and a stunning firing.  Garrett has won awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market. He is definitely a young potter to watch!

6.5"w x 8"h

$500.00

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

Helen Naha created distinctive pottery using the white clay slip throughout her career.  The designs were all painted using bee-weed (black) and natural clay slips.  She learned to make pottery from her mother-in-law, Paqua Naha yet had her own style in form, imagery and composition.  The jar on the left is one of her pieces from the 1950's with a classic eagle tail design.  The jar has a high, sharp shoulder and even the interior is fully polished!  The eagle tails encompass most of the sides of the jar. The wedding vase on the right is from the early 1970's and note the distinctive shape of the spouts and the mouths.  This is a shape which is distinctive to Helen's pottery.  The design on both sides is a parrot pattern which is the design she often painted on her wedding vases, with the tail extending up one spout  Note as well the various clay slips used to created the different colors.  The final image above shows Helen with some pottery that she is beginning to paint with the bee-weed.   Bothe pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Helen won numerous awards for her pottery and was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Rainy, Burrell and Sylvia Naha.  At the far right above is a picture taken of Helen Naha at Santa Fe Indian Market.

Left:         Jar with Eagle Tail Designs            7.5" w x 6.5"h            $1200.00                    

Right:     Wedding Vase with Parrots            5"w x 9.5"h                 $2000.00

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

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 beautiful examples of her pottery.  On the left is undoubtedly one of the most unique pieces we have ever had of Helen Naha's work.  The shape is a double lobbed jar, which is a form that began as two vessel and evolved into one piece.  Technically it is a difficult form to make as there are some many changes of angle it increased the likelihood of it breaking during drying or firing.  However, Helen handled the form with ease and the jar has a beautiful flow in its shape.  The bottom half is painted with the Awatovi Star pattern. Awatovi is one of the ruins near Hopi where a white slipped style of pottery was made.  It is a fascinating place as it was where Coronado made contact with the Hopi in 1540.  During the excavations in the 1930's the whiteware pottery was rediscovered.  It was the imagery from his work which inspired much of Helen's early pottery, as opposed the more classic Sikyatki inspired pottery of Nampeyo.  This section also has the eternity belt pattern around the shoulder and the top and bottom are painted with the star pattern.  The top half has a fineline design with a wind pattern.  It almost has the optical illusion of a smaller bowl sitting on top of the larger piece! The jar on the right has a wonderful shape with a low shoulder and slightly turned out rim.  The design is the classic bat wing pattern which extends down below the shoulder.  The bottom has her hallmark "feather".  It is really wonderful to note her attention to the little details and that even the entire inside of the jar is fully polished! Note on both pieces the wonderful bold lines of Helen's painting!  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Helen won numerous awards for her pottery and was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Rainy, Burrell and Sylvia Naha.  At the far right above is a picture taken of Helen Naha at Santa Fe Indian Market.

Left:         Double Lobbed Jar                     5.5"w x 6"h                     $1600.00

Right:      Jar with Bat Wing Design         8"w x 7"h                         $2400.00

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

 Rainy learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen "Featherwoman" Naha.  Her sister Sylvia and brother Burel Naha are also well known potters.  Each piece is native fired and painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips for the colors.  This jar is a classic Hopi shape with the tall, rounded rim. The design is a pair of hummingbirds on each side.  Note how tightly they are painted and the various colors are all derived from natural clay slips.  After they are painted, each piece is traditionally fired outdoors.  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.

4.25"w x 5.75"h         

$800.00

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   

It is always interesting how Rainy interprets the pre-historic designs on her pottery.  The bowl on the left has the classic eagle tail design painted on the white clay surface.  The tails extend over the side of the bowl and they are designed with various Hopi imagery from cloud to mountain patterns.  The bowl is a beautiful contrast of the white with the various clay colors.  The jar on the right combines both the pre-historic Sikyatki and Awatovi designs. The panels with the triangular designs and the "x's" are inspired by Awatovi patterns. The alternating panels have various imagery used by Nampeyo of Hano which was taken from Sikyatki pottery.  The jar is a great shape with a slightly turned out rim and the base is fully white. She has used a red clay to mottle the background on some of the panels so that they have a more earthy appearance.  All the various colors are derived from native clay slips. 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 learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen "Featherwoman" Naha.  Her sister Sylvia and brother Burel Naha are also well known potters.  She has won numerous awards, including "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007.

Left:        Bowl with Eagle Tail Design                    6.25"w x 3.75"h            $1200.00

Right:     Jar with Awatovi & Sikyatki Designs     5.75"w x 4.25"h            $1150.00    

    Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa  

Rainy Naha has found a distinctive place among Hopi potters.  Working with a white clay and she paints using native clays and bee-weed (black) and her imagery often brings to life pre-historic designs seen through modern eyes.  This is a stunning jar with a very complicated design. It is inspired by the classic "Awatovi Star" which can be seen when looking down at the piece.  The star pattern has been filled with a bird tail design and the alternating triangular areas have various traditional Hopi designs along with the classic swirl of the star pattern.  There are so many angles and interlocking shapes on the jar it is like looking at a puzzle!  The jar itself is a beautiful shape with a slightly turned out rim and a wide shoulder.  The painting is simply exquisite, with very tight lines and a wide variety colors!   She learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen "Featherwoman" Naha.  Her sister Sylvia and brother Burel Naha are also well known potters. Rainy has 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!

8.25"w x 5"h               

$2800.00

   Season Naha-Black (b. 1993) - Hopi-Tewa   

Season Naha is a daughter of Tyra Naha-Black, a granddaughter of Rainy Naha and a great-granddaughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman).  Season learned to make pottery from Rainy and we have seen her work progress over the years.  This bowl is a classic design for the Naha family.  The design around the neck is a rain storm pattern with the wind blowing the rain.  The design below with all the fine lines is the rain itself.  The bowl is thin walled and nicely painted. Season uses all natural clay slips and bee-weed (a plant) for the black. Her pottery is traditionally fired outdoors.  Each year Season's pottery continues to improve and evolve and it is exciting to watch the emergence of a young, talented potter!

4"w x 2.5"h                

$125.00           

Sylvia Naha was a daughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman) and sister of Rainy Naha and Burell 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.  This tall jar is an early and very classic piece by Sylvia. It has the Awatovi Star design which was revived by her mother.  The star pattern is around the neck and base of the jar with the eternity band around the shoulder.  Note the striking contrast of the intricately painted designs against the white clay background!  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  They are both painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay and traditionally fired.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and an "S".  Sylvia won numerous awards for her work at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Indian Market and other events.  Her pottery is also found in museums nationwide. It is  a classic design form this remarkable Hopi-Tewa potter.

8.5"w x 8.5"h        

$1600.00

  Tyra Naha - Hopi-Tewa   

Tyra Naha is a daughter of Rainy Naha and a granddaughter of Helen Naha (Featherwoman).  Tyra learned to make pottery from Rainy and we have seen her work progress over the years.  The bowl on the left is thin walled and painted with the classic Awatovi Star pattern, made famous by Helen Naha.  The entire bowl is fully painted with this intricate pattern.  The jar on the right has another classic Hopi image with two hummingbirds on each side of the jar.  Between each of the hummingbirds is a flower.  Both pieces are traditionally fired and painted with native clay slips and bee-weed (black).  They are signed on the bottom with Tyra's hallmark, which is a feather and a spider.

Left:        Bowl with Awatovi Star Design        4.25"w x 3"h        $200.00

Right:     Jar with Hummingbirds                     3.5"w x 4.75"h      $250.00  - SOLD             

Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni       NEW

Les Namingha blends and deconstructs traditional and historic designs in an amazingly modern style.  This striking jar has a variety of traditional Hopi designs encompassing most of the surface.  Les says this is the first in a series of symmetrical Hopi polychrome designs, so the vessel is divided up into four sections, each with the same design.  The jar is wonderful shape with a wide shoulder and a small mouth, which gives it a lot of space for design. It is painted with mineral paints and clay slips. However, it is the design which is so interesting.  Take a closer look at the third image above and note that in each of the sections there is a triangular grey slipped area, which is a classic Hopi style bird.  The surrounding imagery is additional bird, cloud and rain motifs.  At the neck is the classic eternity band and the design incorporates a variety of clays to make it a true polychrome (more than 3 colors). The firing is also exceptional and note the striking fire clouds on the bottom of the piece!  They certainly enhance the depth and visual warmth of the jar.  The overall effect of the four sections and the detailed painting works perfectly when looking at the top of the jar, as a whole new design is created!  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.

7.5"w x 4"h    

$2200.00

Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni     

Les Namingha a unique dynamic in his art which often takes classic and traditional designs and recast them in unexpected sequences and with his precision style of painting.  His Zuni and Hopi-Tewa ancestry also adds to the historic variations that he can draw from for inspiration.  This phenomenal jar in the shape of a classic Zuni olla.  The shape has a the tall shoulders, sloping neck and even the indented base (where traditionally it might be carried on the head).  The jar has a great shape and feel yet it is the visual impact of the painted surface which is so intricate and dramatic.  The jar is slipped in a white kaolin clay and then it is painted with mineral paints and clay pigments.  The contrast of the slips with the white background works beautifully!   The basic designs are the Zuni Rain Bird, fineline and hatchwork patterns in panel sections.  However, it is the tight painting which moves the eye around from one section to the next.  It is also the variation in the color of the white background  clay from the firing which adds to the intensity of the piece.  It is not static when turned but  reveals an array of colorations which are subtle and draw out black and red designs.   It is always interesting as to how much detail and design Les can create on one  piece without it looking too busy!  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.

8.25"w x 6.5"h

$3200.00 - SOLD

  Les Namingha - Hopi-Tewa/Zuni   

Les Namingha is an amazing painter and designer for his pottery.  He creates a striking blend of traditional and contemporary in both the shape and design of his pottery.  This jar is a classic Sikyatki inspired shape with the low, wide shoulder.  This creates a perfect space for painted designs.  This piece is made from native clay and painted with acrylic.  This jar is entitled, "River Rock".  Les says of this piece, "The idea behind the design came from my observations of the flow of small rivers and creeks.  It was interesting to see the unique patterns created by light on the surface of the water and the change in flow of the water around rocks and other obstacles in the river.   I abstracted these observations using Pueblo pottery patterns in depicting that movement of the river.  Concerning the title, the dark round-oval shape on the top area of the pot represents a rock that has been polished by the flow of the river.  The shapes on the bottom of the pot allude to this polished rock and represent the rocks or stones found in river beds.".  The imagery fully captures Les's concepts about the river and the rocks below.  Note as well in the fourth image above his use of Hopi style birds.  The birds and the surrounding designs are further enhanced with a stylistic use of pointillism to create background coloration.  This jar has an amazing sense of motion, created both the designs and the colorations.  The eye can't help but be drawn across the surface of this dazzling jar!  Les Namingha learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva.  His cousins Steve Lucas and Hisi Quotskuyva are both renowned potters.  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!

8.5"w x 3.75"h

$2400.00 - SOLD

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

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 an exceptional piece of her pottery. The design is a migration pattern and the entire bowl is fully painted. The black is bee-weed (a plant) and the red is an additional clay slip.  The bowl has been traditionally fired so there are color variations to the clay.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

6.25"w x 3.5"h

$500.00

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

Fannie Nampeyo was the youngest daughter of noted potter Nampeyo of Hano and also the mother of noted potters Iris Nampeyo, Leah Nampeyo and Thomas Polacca.  She was certainly among the most skilled of her generation for painting designs pottery.  While her mother revived the "migration" or bird wing design, Fannie made is a signature design of her pottery and of the Nampeyo family.  On the left is a bowl with a classic migration pattern encircling the piece.  The lines are tightly painted and there are beautiful colorations in the clay from the firing.  The bowl is signed with her name and a corn plant (she was Corn Clan) and one of the few with a date, "1976".   The bowl on the right has a bat wing design which can be seen on each of the four sections of the bowl.  The top is slipped with a red clay and polished. The bowl has beautiful colorations from the firing.   All three pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  They each certainly capture the elegance and precision of the pottery by this important Hopi-Tewa potter!  Fannie's pottery can be found in museums around the world, along with information in books such as, "Nampeyo: The Legacy of a Master Potter".

Left:        Bowl with Migration Pattern                             7"w x 4.5"h                  $1600.00

Right:     Bowl with Bat Wing Design                              6.5"w x 4"h                   $1500.00

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.  It is not only the use of classic shapes, the but the finely painted lines which are indicative of her pottery.  While her mother revived the "migration" or bird wing design, Fannie made is a signature design of her pottery and of the Nampeyo family.  On the left is an open bowl is from the 1960's and has designs painted around the shoulder.  The imagery is a stylized bird in one of lower panels with cloud and rain designs around the neck.  The larger panels are separated by rain and cloud motifs.  It is a beautifully painted with tight lines which are complemented by the color of the clay from the firing.   Typical of her earlier work the bowl is fully polished on the inside! The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. The large jar on the right is from the 1970's and it is a classic shape with a wider shoulder and slightly turned out rim.  It is painted with the migration pattern across much of the surface of the piece.   Both pieces have been traditionally fired giving both very stunning fire clouds.  Note the perfect execution of the lines on the design! The jar is in very good condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and some light spalling on the surface.  Both pieces are signed on the bottom, "Fannie Nampeyo"  and they capture the elegance and precision of the pottery by this important Hopi-Tewa potter!  Fannie's pottery can be found in museums around the world, along with information in books such as, "Nampeyo: The Legacy of a Master Potter".

Left:        Bowl with Birds and Clouds          7.5"w x 4"h            $1400.00

Right:     Jar with Migration Pattern              9"w x 6"h               $3600.00

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

Iris Nampeyo comes from a family of talented potters including her siblings: Tonita Nampeyo, Tom Polacca, Elva Nampeyo and Leah Garcia Nampeyo. Iris is a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo.  She is married to Wallace Youvella and their son Nolan is also a talented potter. While she is known for her corn design on a buff colored pottery, she also creates a few more unusual pieces.  The bowl on the left is a deep red coloration which is the actual color of the clay.  It has a single ear of corn in appliqué on one side.  Typical of her work it has an asymmetrical opening for the mouth of the piece. The bowl on the right is one of her very few painted pieces.  The design is a roadrunner which encircles the top of the bowl.  It is highly polished and beautifully painted.  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Iris's pottery can be found in numerous books and she has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Gallup Ceremonials and other events.

Left:        Red Bowl with Corn Design          3.75"w x 3"h        $700.00

Right:     Bowl with Roadrunner Design     5"w x 3.5"h          $1000.00            

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

Iris Nampeyo has created style of pottery that has become nearly synonymous with her name.  She has been making the jars with an appliqué corn design on the surface since the early 1980's.  Each piece is fully polished and the overall coloration is a reflection of the color of the clay and the firing.  The inspiration for the corn motif comes from her being a member of the corn clan, and so has modified the imagery to use on her pottery surfaces. Today, Iris makes very little pottery, yet the imagery continues to have a strong resonance.  The jar on the left is her classic wide shoulder jar with a single ear of corn on the surface.  The husk of the corn extends around the bowl and the asymmetrical rim gives the bowl a very organic appearance. This bowl has been traditionally fired and there is a striking coloration to the clay with a firedcloud on the side.  Its unexpected placement actually emphasizes the ear of corn!  The jar on the right is one of her larger pieces and it is stunning balance of form and simplicity of design.  The corn and surrounding husk is also raised and it is matte in contrast to the stone polished surface.  The husk then extends around the surface of the bowl.  The opening is asymmetrical which is a striking contrast to the symmetry of the wide shoulder form.  Iris is a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo.    The last photo above is a picture of the bowl with a piece by Fannie, which shows how far Hopi pottery has evolved in just one generation! She also comes from a family of talented potters including her siblings: Tonita Nampeyo, Tom Polacca, Elva Nampeyo and Leah Garcia Nampeyo. She is married to Wallace Youvella and their son Nolan is also a talented potter. Iris's pottery can be found in numerous books and she has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Gallup Ceremonials and other events.

Left:         Tan Bowl with Corn and Firecloud        6"w x 3.5"h         $1100.00 - SOLD     

Right:      Large Jar with Corn Design                     10"w x 5.5"h        $3900.00

Leah Garcia Nampeyo (1928-1974) - Hopi-Tewa  

Leah Garcia Nampeyo was a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and a sister of Elva Nampeyo, Tonita Nampeyo, Thomas Polacca and Iris Youvella.  Her children, James, Melda and Rayvin Nampeyo are all also well known potters.  This bowl is a classic bird wing migration pattern which is painted to encircle the bowl  The black is bee-weed, which is a plant and the red is an additional clay slip.  The bowl won a 2nd place ribbon at the 1972 Gallup Inter-tribal Ceremonials.  The bowl is in very good shape with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There are some areas of fugitive black in the painting which is not unexpected with the pieces from this era. Having a ribbon is always a great piece of provenance to go with a bowl!

8"w x 4.5"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.  On the left 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.  The bowl on the right is made from the traditional red clay.  It is also fully polished on the inside.  The design is a star pattern which is painted as a single image on all four sides.  Both pieces are in very good 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.

Left:        Jar with Migration Pattern            12"w x 7"h             $2800.00

Right:     Red Bowl with Star Design          9.75"w x 5"h          $1400.00

Tonita Hamilton Nampeyo (b. 1934) - Hopi-Tewa  NEW

Tonita Nampeyo was a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and a sister of Elva Nampeyo, Leah Nampeyo, Thomas Polacca and Iris Youvella.  Her son is noted potter Loren Hamilton.  This wedding vase is a classic shape for her pottery.  The spouts are more oval and the handle is elongated.  The body of the wedding vase is painted with a migration pattern which encircles the piece.  Note the center section of the design where she has added her own unique touch to this traditional design!  Tonita has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market. 

4.75"w x 9"h

$700.00

Charles Navasie - Hopi-Tewa  NEW

Charles Navasie is a grandson of noted potter Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie.  This bowl has a flat top which has allowed him to paint a unique variation of a classic design.  There are birds on the top and bottom of the design.  The birds are painted with red an mauve clay slips. In the center there is a square area which ahs been painted with a red clay slip.  The extensions coming off the square are stylized bird wings.  The design has an elegant flow across the surface.  Around the shoulder are cloud patterns which he has stippled to create the coloration.  The bowl has some slight color variations from the traditional firing.   

7.5"w x 3"h

$800.00

Eunice "Fawn" Navasie (1920-1992) - Hopi-Tewa  

Eunice Navasie was a sister-in-law of Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie and also of Pauline Setalla.  Her pottery uses a white clay slip and it is much in the same style as the other members of the Navasie family.  However, Eunice created some distinctive designs and utilized various clay slips in her pottery.  This jar is from the mid 1970's and has a bird wing and rain pattern which encompasses the surface. However, the design appears to be derived from either early Polacca polychrome pottery or possibly even Zuni pottery with the triangular designs and open space. The rim is slipped with a tan clay and there are slight blushes on the surface from the traditional firing.  The jar is in good condition with some wear and slight scratches.  Eunice's daughters, Fawn, Dolly Joe and Dawn are all known for their pottery.  Eunice's pottery can be found in numerous books, museums worldwide and some spectacular pieces are featured in the 1974 Arizona Highways magazine.

6.5"w x 4.75"h    

$125.00

Grace Navasie (b. 1953) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Grace Navasie is a daughter of noted potter Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie.  She learned to make pottery from her mother and continues to make pieces using the similar white slipped clay.   These two pieces are from the early 1980's and are painted with bee-weed and native clay slips and native fired.  The miniature wedding vase on the left has a bird tail design painted on each side with the tails extending up the spouts of the vase.  The ochre colored clay is more unusual as a contrast color as compared to the more classic red clay slip.  The wedding vase on the right has a bird wing design on the spouts and a bird tail pattern on the body of the piece. The top of the handle is also painted with a design. The variations in the color of the white throughout the piece is from the traditional firing of the vase.  Both pieces are signed on the bottom with a frog hallmark and a "G".  Both pieces are in excellent condition and wonderfully intricate for their size.

Left:       Miniature Wedding Vase                    1.25"w x 2.5"h             $100.00

Right:    Wedding Vase with Bird Tails           3"w x 6.25"h                $150.00 - SOLD

Joy " Frogwoman"  Navasie (1919 - 2012) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Joy Navasie was known for her white slipped pottery and classic use of design elements. She learned to make pottery from her mother, Paqua, who also used the white clay and signed with a frog as a hallmark.  The white kaolin clay is a slip which is applied to the surface of the bowl and then black (bee-weed) and red clay slips are used for painting.  This bowl is a wonderful piece of her work from the late 1960's. It is a unique design with two different designs in each of the four panels.  The red areas are the wings of the birds in each of the sections. Note the color of the red which is typical of her work at this period of time.  Later she would change slips and use the darker colored red clay.  The bowl is signed on the bottom with her frog hallmark and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Joy's pottery is iconic among the Hopi white slipped pottery and her work can be found in numerous books, museums worldwide and some spectacular pieces are featured in the 1974 Arizona Highways magazine.

8.25"w x 6.25"h           

$1200.00

Joy " Frogwoman"  Navasie (1919 - 2012) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Joy Navasie was known for her white slipped pottery and classic use of design elements. She learned to make pottery from her mother, Paqua, who also used the white clay and signed with a frog as a hallmark.  The white kaolin clay is a slip which is applied to the surface of the bowl and then black (bee-weed) and red clay slips are used for painting.  Both of these pieces are from the late 1970's and they are both traditionally fired and painted with classic designs.  On the left is one of her miniature cylinder jars. It is painted with a stylized bird design in each of the sections.  On the right is a wedding vase which has a bird design on each side.  The top of the handle is also painted with designs.   Both pieces are signed on the bottom with her frog hallmark and both are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Joy's pottery is iconic among the Hopi white slipped pottery and her work can be found in numerous books, museums worldwide and some spectacular pieces are featured in the 1974 Arizona Highways magazine.

Left:        Cylinder Jar with Bird Motifs                2.5"w x 3"h            $400.00

Right:     Wedding Vase with Bird Design          3"w x 6.25"h           $525.00 - SOLD

Leona Navasie (b. 1939) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Leona Navasie is a daughter of noted potter Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie.  She learned to make pottery from her mother and continues to make pieces using the similar white slipped clay.  This bowl is painted in a classic style with native clay slips and bee-weed (black).  The ochre colored slip is more unusual in Hopi pottery but creates a striking coloration!  This small bowl is painted in a panel style with bird and bird wing designs.  The bowl is signed on the bottom with a frog hallmark and "LN". It is a piece of her work from the late 1970's and it is in excellent condition and a wonderful example of miniature Hopi pottery!

2.75"w x 2"h

$150.00

        Garnet Pavatea (1915-1981) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Garnet Pavatea began making pottery in the 1940's.  Her sister, Myrtle Young was also well known for making pottery, as well as her niece, Kathleen Dewakuku.  At Hopi there are two kinds of clay.  One fires red and the other fires out tan or orangish in color.  Garnet was one of the few potters who excelled working with the red clay.  Even today, few potters use the red, as it is more difficult to polish and fire and have it come out with a consistent coloration.  This wonderful open bowl is made from the red clay and it is fully polished on the inside and outside!  Technically, this is always difficult as adding more water on the opposite side of a polished surface may cause it to crack.  This bowl is a unique shape with two handles on either side.  The design around the rim is painted with bee-weed, which is a plant, and the bowl was traditionally fired.  In the center is a bowl with a bat wing desing on each side.  The bowl is a classic shape and tightly painted.  It also includes it original card from the Museum of Northern Arizona Hopi Show!  On the right is one of her tiles band of cloud and feather designs encircling the piece.  There is a small loss of the red slip on two of the corners.  While Garnet may be better known for her corrugated pottery, her painted work is simple and classic.  All three pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. They are each signed, "Garnet Pavatea".  Garnet's work can be found in numerous books and in various museums around the country, including the Heard Museum and the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Left:        Red Bowl with Eternity Design        13"w x 4"h            $1200.00

Center:   Bowl with Bat Wing Design              5.5"w x 3"h           $600.00

Right:     Tile with Cloud Pattern                      5.5" x 4"                 $250.00

Thomas Polacca (1935 - 2003) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Thomas Polacca was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano.   Along with Wallace Youvella (the husband of his sister Iris), Thomas was one of the first Hopi men to be being both making and designing pottery in the 1970's.  Wallace and Thomas told the story that they first tried making pottery with "traditional" designs but there was resistance from the women so they began to create a new style of Hopi pottery, with carved designs, much in the same manner as Hopi Katsinas.  This stunning bowl is from 1981 and it is entitled, "Hopi Way".  This piece is coil built and it was traditionally fired (note the fire cloud in photo 4 above).  The piece is perfectly carved with numerous levels of carving and painted to have the look of wood!  The imagery consists of three different central medallions with various katsina masks (Aholi, Tewa and maybe a Hilili).  The fourth medallion has two human figures.  Note as well the use of additional feather, corn and prayer feather designs.  It is a striking piece from Thomas at the peak of his career.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Thomas received wide acclaim for his pottery over the years and his work is in numerous museums such as the Heard, the Denver Art Museum and others.

6"w x 6"h

$1200.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

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 elegant jar is one of our favorite shapes by Al. It has a wide base and neck and the entire surface is fully polished. The jar is entitled, "Hidden Tower" and there is one area where he has pushed in the clay to create the impression of a cliff dwelling inside the jar!  The height of the jar allows for tall and distinctive ruins and the way he has carved the edge of the jar, it is almost as if one has stumbled across the ruin hidden away in a cliff.  Not only is each of the structures highly detailed, but note near the bottom of the design there is even the debris of stones that have fallen away over time. The detail continues near the top of the design as he has even created a pattern on the cliff wall!!  However, what makes this shape so special is the way the light enters the piece and creates the illusion of light coming from inside of the key-hole doorways and window!  It is an amazing effect and works beautifully with this elegant jar!  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!   

8.5"w x 13.5"h

$12,000.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

Al Qoyawayma has created a variety of Hopi Katsina figures on his pottery over the years.  On each piece the single Katsina figure pushed out in the clay (repousse) on one side.  The figure is matte and the remainder of the jar is polished in contrast.  The katchina is amazingly intricate in design.  Note in the final images above, the detail in the hair, feather and the corn of the body.  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 on the left is made from the buff Hopi clay while the jar on the right is made from the red Hopi clay.  The jar on the right is from 1984 and is an early example of this style of design on his work.  Bothe piece are 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!   

Left:            Katsina Figure on Buff Jar            5.75"w x 10.5"h                $3800.00

Right:         Red Jar with Katsina Figure         4"w x 7"h                          $1600.00

         Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

While Al Qoyawayma is known for his pottery, he has also made a series bronzes over the years.  On the left is an early bronze of his from 1985.  It is entitled, "Corn Maiden" and it is a bronze version of the clay Corn Maiden figure that he has created over the years.  The front has a repousse corn image with an open space for the face, creating a sense of mystery and the unknown.  On the right is a bronze entitled, "Hopi Maiden". This bronze was done in collaboration with Hopi jeweler Charles Supplee.  This piece is only bronze, but on several of them Charles also added stone embellishments.  There is a beautiful sense of flow and moment in this piece and the highlights of the patina work perfectly!  Both bronzes are an edition size of 30 and both are sold out.  For those who don't collect clay, or are afraid of breakage, these are wonderful pieces of Al's work! 

Left:        "Corn Maiden" Bronze  3/30                12"h                    $3500.00

Right:     "Hopi Maiden" Bronze  11/30              11"h                    $3000.00 

Camille "Hisi" Quotskuyva - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Camille "Hisi" Quotskuyva learned to make pottery from her mother, Dextra Quotskuyva, a sister of noted painter Dan Namingha and a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, Annie Healing and Rachel Nampeyo.  She is known for her use of traditional imagery and the delicate painting of her designs.  The bowl on the left is a classic Sikyatki shape with the wide shoulder and the flatness of the overall vessel.  The design on the top consists of four old style moths painted around the opening.  The wings of the moths are slipped with a red clay and the remainder is painted with bee-weed (black).  The bowl is signed on the bottom and it is from 11-2000.  Note the subtle variations in color from the firing!  The jar on the right has an old style migration or bird wing design, which has also been called the black bird wing design.  The design is painted across the entire surface of the piece and the interior of the neck is also painted with a matte red clay.  There is some fugitive areas of the bee-weed painted sections.  Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Hisi has won numerous awards for her pottery and has been featured in various book on Hopi pottery.  Her work can also be found in museums such as the Denver Art Museum and the Heard Museum.

Left:         Wide Bowl w/ Moth Designs              9"w x 4.25"h            $1800.00

Right:      Jar with Migration Pattern                   3.5"w x 2.75"h         $600.00

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.  This spectacular jar on the left is from 2000 and it has a classic Sikyatki style shape with the wide and low shoulder.  Typical of Mark's work from this time it is very thin walled and tightly painted.  The design is a bird tail pattern where the end of the bird tails extend just below the shoulder.  He has only used red to accent the design around the shoulder while the remainder is painted with the black bee-weed.  Each of the eagle tails is connected with a checkerboard pattern!  The contrast of the sharp angles with the rounded designs of the bird tails and the overall vessel is beautiful!  The rim is slightly turned out and the inside painted with a burgundy red clay slip.   Mark commented at the time when this piece was made that it was one of the thinnest rims he had ever made on a pot!   The jar on the right is a classic shape with a wide shoulder and a slightly turned out rim.  The design is an old style Hopi bird pattern along with rain and tadpole imagery.  Note as well the black painted rim and the band around the shoulder, which are unusual in his pottery and utilized to give the jar more of an "old style" appearance.  Mark has made it an important part of his career to create the blushes in the firing process.  The depth of the coloration gives his vessels such life!  Both pieces have a striking array of colors from deep orange to nearly white.  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".  He continues to be one of exceptional traditional innovators of Hopi pottery!

Left:        Large Jar with Eagle Tail Designs            11"w x 5"h            $1800.00

Right:     Jar with Bird Wing Patterns                      6.25"w x 4.5"h       $700.00

Nannie Talahongva (d. 1990) - Hopi   

Nannie Talahongva began making pottery in the 1960's.  This is one of her tiles or plaques.  These were made to hang on the walls so there are holes in the piece. The design on this tile is a bird pattern with the elongated body.  The tile is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

7.75" diameter   

$125.00

  Elizabeth "Polingaysi" White (1892-1990) - Hopi-Tewa   

Elizabeth White is truly one of the amazing stories from Hopi.  She grew up at Orabi on Third Mesa at Hopi and became a teacher.  After she retired from teaching in 1954 began making pottery.  The fascinating story of her early life is documented in her book, "No Turning Back".  In 1978 she was awarded both the Arizona Indian Living Treasure tribute and the Heard Museum’s Gold Medal.  In 1991 she was inducted into the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame.  Her pottery uses the various colors of Hopi clay and much of it has a very utilitarian appearance.  She also began the style of using a single ear of corn as a design in repousse (pushed out from the inside) on her pottery. Her pottery is all signed in the clay with her Hopi name Polingaysi, which means, "butterfly sitting among the flowers in the breeze".  This bowl in the shape of a classic cooking vessel.  The entire piece is fully polished, both on the inside and outside.  There are two simple clay handles on the sides of the bowl.  It is made from the clay red clay found near Hopi. It is  in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The legacy of Elizabeth continues in the pottery of her nephew Al Qoyawayma.  It is not often that we find Elizabeth's pottery and there is always such a wonderful charm in their traditional yet simple shapes and forms.

9.25"w x 6"h               

$1200.00

Myrtle Young (d. 1984) - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Myrtle Young was a sister of noted potter Garnet Pavatea and the mother of potter Harriet Nasonhoya.  Throughout her career she was probably most famous for her large piki bowls.  They are a classic shape for Hopi potter with a high side and fully polished on the inside and outside. This striking bowl is fully polished and left without design.  However, it is the blush from the firing that gives it beauty and character.  The bowl is beautifully constructed and thin walled.  The piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Myrtle's pottery can be found in museums such as the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Heard Museum.

13.5"w x 6.5"h              

$900.00

Wallace Youvella (b. 1947) - Hopi   

Wallace Youvella was one of the first men to begin making pottery in the 1970's.  His work has always been different than the classic Hopi pottery as he began making pieces which were carved or incised.  This small seedpot is one that is incised with a Hano katsina on the top and deer tracks surrounded by rain and kiva step designs.  Note the detail and the precision of the incised design in the clay!  Wallace is son of noted potter Susie Maha Youvella and the husband of Iris Nampeyo. He learned to make pottery from his wife as well as his mother. 

2"w x 1.25"h  

$300.00

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 have evolved to focus on more Navajo style imagery.  The carving on each is deep and each piece is in perfect condition.  Note as well the matte areas, which are actually technically difficult to do so that the clay doesn't look 'lumpy' or cast shadows.  Harrison always makes this an exceptional part of his pottery. This jar is from 1997 and has a series of flute players encircling the piece.  There is an additional cloud design carved around the neck and a polished rim.  Harrison has won numerous awards for his work and continues to be one of the leading innovators in Native American Indian pottery.

5"w x 5.5"h            

$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 is one of his distinctively shaped wedding vases.  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.

7"w x 7.5"h        

$2000.00

Kim Knife Chief - Pawnee    

Kim Knife Chief learned to make pottery from Harrison Begay.  This jar was made in 2002 and it is deeply carved and highly polished around the neck. The design is a series of flower patterns which encircle the surface.  It is in perfect condition and the design is very tightly carved.  While Kim no longer makes pottery she is known for her distinctive jewelry. 

5"w x 4.5"h       

$300.00

Alice Cling - Navajo    NEW

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.  The jar on the left is a classic form for her pottery with a narrow base, a wide shoulder and an elongated neck.  The jar has been traditionally fired which creates the variations in color.   The coloration is striking with variations from black to dark red.  The cylinder shaped jar in the center has been polished at an angle. The result is that when the piece is fired the smoke appears to flow around the jar at an angle a almost appear to be in motion!  The coloration on the jar ranges from dark black to a bright red.  The large jar on the right has a narrow base, a wide shoulder and an elongated neck. The neck is caved with a step or mountain design on one side.  The jar itself is highly polished and stunning with the variations in color from the traditional firing.  All three pieces are covered in pine-pitch after the firing, a continuation of the traditional Navajo pottery when pitch was used to make the pottery water proof. Alice has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "Legacy of Generations".

Left:            Jar with Wide Shoulder                  5"w x 6"h            $450.00

Center:       Tall Jar with Diagonal Polish        3.5"w x 5.75"h    $400.00

Right:         Tall Jar with Step Design on Lip  7"w x 9"h            $800.00

Samuel Manymules - Navajo    

Samuel Manymules is a self-taught potter who began as a jeweler.  He creates minimalist pottery which has an amazing sense of form.  This water jar is a stunning example of his pottery. Coil built, he has created a graceful shape with a wide shoulder, a dip in as the shoulder extends up to the neck and a slight turn out to the rim.  There is a even thickness of the clay throughout the vessel, giving it a wonderful feel when held.  The jar is slipped with a red clay slip and then traditionally fired outside.  It is the smoke form the fire which creates the various fire clouds.  The desire is to create a piece where the coloration varies from a deep red to nearly black. The difficulty is that when the piece is in the fire, it is impossible to control the flame, so the final result is arbitrary, but also part of the excitement and beauty of the piece!  Note the variations in color on this jar in the images above as the colors change as the piece is turned.  After it is fired the jar is covered in pine pitch, a continuation of the traditional Navajo pottery when pitch was used to make the pieces water proof.  Samuel has won numerous awards including a Judges' Choice Award at the 2008 Heard Museum and Best of Pottery at the 2006 Southwest Museum Indian Marketplace.  His distinctive pottery is a visual treat with such graceful forms.

12.75"w x 11"h                  

$3600.00 - 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. Her work has a wonderful native aesthetic and vision yet a modern use of the clay to defy expectations.  This pitcher is designed with a flower bud handle.  The bottom of the piece is a very round bowl.  She has created a spout on one side and the handle on the other.  The handle is hollow and coiled so that it extends up from the bowl itself and curves slightly as a handle.  The shape of the handle is a flower bud.  The pitcher itself has a very organic appearance and yet captures the utilitarian concept with the shape of the handle.  This piece by Christine is a beautiful blend of form and perceived function.  The entire jar 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 from 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!

8.5"w x 14.5"h

$14,000.00

      Christine Nofchissey McHorse - Navajo      NEW

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.  These two pieces are early pieces of her pottery from 1986. Both are made with micaceous clay.  The large oval bowl on the left is micaceous clay and thin walled.  The surface is plain with a stepped design on the rim.  The large bowl on the right has a sharp shoulder and an asymmetrical rim designed to have the appearance of the mesas.  The surface on both pieces is a beautiful copper coloration from the mica in the clay.  Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is shelf wear and some scratches on the bottom of each piece.  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 from 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”. 

Left:        Oval Bowl with Step Design Rim                14"w x 13"w x 4.25"h            $1200.00 - SOLD

Right:     Micaceous Jar with Asymmetrical Rim       10"w x 10"h                            $1800.00 - SOLD

Ida Sahmie - Navajo  

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  

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.  The seedpot on the left has a star pattern incised into the clay on the top and then there are additional step patterns.  Each of the different sections is highlighted with an additional clay slip.  The jar on the right is slipped with a red clay below the shoulder.  The area around the neck is fully incised with a mountain and rain pattern.  The coloration of the jar is from the firing.  Lorraine has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "A Legacy of Generations". 

Left:        Seedpot with Star Pattern                    5"w x 2.5"h           $100.00

Right:     Jar with Mountain & Rain Design    4.75"w x 6.5"h       $150.00