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

6.25"w x 5"h

$850.00

Dorothy Ami is a cousin of noted potter Mark Tahbo, who taught her to make pottery.  The wedding vase has a bird tail design on one side and it is plain on the other side.  It has been native fired so there are blushes from the firing.  As well, Dorothy has a wonderful sense of design and form, which is evident in her detailed imagery.

4.75"w x 7"h

$250.00

Eleanor Ami is the grandmother of  potter Loren Ami.  This jar is a classic example of her pottery.  It is the older white clay slip with a single bird as the design.  The bird has a very "old style" appearance, yet is graceful on the shape.  This jar is from the early 1970's.  This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

3.5"w x 3.5"h

$125.00

       Loren Ami - Hopi-Tewa  

The pottery of Loren Ami has a delicate balance of design and form.  His clay vessels are thin walled and stunningly proportioned.   The canteen on the left is a classic example of his pottery, with very tightly painted designs.  The use of red and white clay slips accentuate the bird tail design as the central pattern.  Loren also makes the leather strap for the canteen.  The canteen in the center is one of his few miniatures.  It is highly polished and painted with bee-weed (a plant) for the black. The deign is a spiral whirlwind pattern.  The canteen on the right has a bird wing pattern painted on the front.  The red areas are a polished red clay slip.  The back and handles have a unpolished red clay slip, which accentuates the polished central medallion on the front/top of the canteen.  Loren is a grandson of noted potter, Sadie Adams.  He learned to make pottery from one of the most influential Hopi potters working today, Dextra Quotskuyva.  He is certainly becoming one of the new Hopi-Tewa potters to watch, as each new piece reveals his strength as both a potter and an artist!

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

Center:     Miniature Canteen                                2.5"w x 2" long                       $200.00

Right:      Canteen with Bird Wings                    7"w x 6.25"long x 4.25"h        $1200.00

Loren Ami - Hopi Tewa    

Loren Ami has focused his pottery on the revival of historic designs.  While he learned from the renown potter, Dextra Quotskuyva, he has also followed her advice to continue with classic forms and designs.  This stunning wide shoulder jar has a fineline bird tail and wing pattern painted above the rim. The black design is derived from bee-wee and not the intricacy of the painted lines!  The red is a clay slip which is combined with mica to give it just a bit of sparkle in the light.  The jar has been native fired which has resulted in a deep, even coloration.  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!

9"w x 6"h

$2000.00

Nathan Begaye - Hopi/Navajo  

Over the past few months, we have been pleased to to see new work from Nathan Begaye!  The seedpot on the left was just finished and has a very organic form with a wide shoulder and tapered top.  On two sides are intricately painted birds.  They are each highlighted with native clay slips of various colors.  Note that the slips are all polished before the seedpot is fired! Separating the two birds is a classic Hopi rain cloud pattern.  The top of the seedpot has a flower and the bottom is slipped with a blueish clay slip, meant to represent water.  There are additional incised designs on the bottom of the piece.  The jar on the right is from 1982 and is a simple form with a "pushed out" melon bowl on the top half and a polished stylized melon for the bottom half.  Separating the top and bottom of this piece are painted triangles.  All the clay colors used on the triangles are from natural clay slips.  Nathan simply continues to be one of the innovators of Native pottery.  Nathan has been 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:         Seedpot with Birds and Flower        6"w x 4"h            $750.00 - SOLD

Right:      Jar with Melon Ribs                            4.5"w x 7"h         $550.00

    Nathan Begaye - Hopi/Navajo   NEW

This small seedpot is an early piece from Nathan Begaye.  It was made in 1988 and it is a beautiful example of his tightly painted designs and complicated imagery.  Looking down from the top, the seedpot has a flower pattern.  The eminating out form the flwoer are a series of stylized Hopi birds.  Take a moment to check out the above images and note that each of the birds is different.  As well, all the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Nathan also carved into the clay of the bowl before he started to paint, so there are circular cloud and rain designs seen in the background impressions of the seedpot. 

 Nathan simply continues to be one of the innovators of Native pottery.  Nathan has been featured in numerous books, including "Free Spirit: The New Native American Indian Potter", "Beyond Traditions" and others. His pottery can also be found in the permanent collection of the Heard and other museums.

4.75"w x 4"h

$1000.00

Loren Hamilton - Hopi-Tewa   

Loren Hamilton is a son of Tonita Nampeyo and a grandson of Fannie Nampeyo.  He is well known for his beautifully incised and polished pottery.  This seedpot has a katsina as the central design with a stalk of corn on one side and a lightning bolt on the other.  The additional colors are natural clay slips. The remainder of the piece is fully polished tan. Note the intricacy of the incised designs behind the katsina figure! 

2"w x 2"h

$175.00

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

Rondina Huma is certainly one of the most influential Hopi potters working today.  Since her "Best of Show" award at Santa Fe Indian Market in the early 1990's, her tight style and intricately painted pottery has changed the face of contemporary Hopi pottery.   Each piece is coil built, fully stone polished and painted with native clays and bee-weed (black), and native fired.  Here are three extraordinary pieces of her pottery.  The jar on the left is made with a more reddish colored clay. The designs are intricately painted around the entire surface of the jar.  The deep red lines below the shoulder are in triangular patterns.  The rim also has a checkerboard pattern in red and black.  Note that the red areas have also been stone polished!  The flat bowl in the center is a stunning use of various clay slips and tightly painted designs.  The top has a star pattern, with a highly polished red clay slip.  The entire surface of the bowl is fully painted and the rim has  an unusual textured and checkerboard pattern.  The smaller bowl on the right is perfectly painted with very small, tight patterns. The red areas are fully polished and the bands above and below the shoulder are fully designed with various geometric patterns.  Rondina says that she tries to not duplicate the same "shard" patterns on the same vessel!  The tight patters 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:            Jar with Checkerboard Rim                        5.5"w x 5.25"h            $8200.00

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

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

Rondina Huma 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

$6800.00

Rondina Huma - Hopi-Tewa  

Rondina Huma has developed a very distinctive style of painted design. Each bowl is fully painted and has a variety of squares, each with a different Hopi symbol or image.  This larger bowl is from the early 1990's and reflects this evolution of her imagery.  The squares are larger and yet the symmetry and style are very distinctive of her pottery.  The red areas are polished with a red clay slip and contrast to the other matte-like surfaces.  The bowl is in excellent condition and a wonderful size for her pottery!  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.

8"w x 5"h

$3800.00

     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 - SOLD

Val Kahe - Hopi   

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. Here are three exceptional new pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a round bowl with a series of bird wing patterns painted above the shoulder.  Note looking down on the piece how beautifully they spiral around the entire piece!  The plate in the center is just extraordinary!  It has a painted butterfly maiden (Pahlik Mana) as the central design.  Around the border is an eternity band design.  Take a closer look at the picture of the plate, as the painting is very detailed and tight!  On the right is a canteen with a series of stylized geometrics.  Val said she had taken these from the traditional designs used on her mother's pottery.  The canteen has a flat back and the central medallion design is surrounded by an eternity belt pattern.  On all three pieces, they have been native fired and have beautiful blushes from the fire which accentuate the design.  As well, Val has begun polishing the red clay slip which creates an incredible visual contrast on the pieces of various polished surfaces!  The black is painted using bee-wee (black).  Val is certainly one of the "up and coming" potters of Hopi and these three pieces are definitely exciting examples of her pottery!

Left:            Bowl with Bird Wing Pattern        6"w x 3.5"h                        $500.00

Center:       Plate w/ Butterfly Maiden            12" diameter                       $850.00 - SOLD

Right:         Canteen with Geometrics              6.25" long x 7"w x 4"h      $600.00 - SOLD 

Jacob Koopee - Hopi-Tewa   

Jake is certainly one of the most innovative and exciting Hopi-Tewa potters working today.  Jake Koopee is a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, through his grandmother, Marie Koopee.  He continues the family legacy of dynamic visuals and elegantly formed pottery.  Here are two exceptional pieces of his pottery. The jar on the left has a classic Hopi image of two hummingbirds around a sunflower.  The birds are tightly painted and fit the asymmetrical shape of the vessel.  The opposite side has a hummingbird tail design.  Note the precision and 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. The jar on the right has a Butterfly Maiden as the central design.  Note the opening is where the mask would be.  The body has a white native clay slip and the headdress (tablita) is intricately painted and slipped with red and mauve clay slips.  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!  He continues to be one of the young leaders of contemporary Hopi pottery!

Left:        Jar w/ Hummingbirds            4"w x 4"h        $1000.00

Right:     Bowl w/ Butterfly Maiden    5"w x 4"h        $1100.00

Jacob Koopee - Hopi-Tewa   

Jake is certainly among the most creative younger Hopi-Tewa potters working today. His vessels are beautifully formed with complex shapes.  This bowl is a fantastic example of his pottery skill, with a narrow base and wide shoulder.  The design is painted on the area above the shoulder.  It is a classic Bird Tail pattern often seen on Hopi pottery. However, Jake has given it his own unique style, with fineline painting and delicate swirls in he designs.  Note as well how he has polished each of the colored clay slips (from red to mauve) which he used to accent the black painted designs!  This is not only technically difficult, but unusual to find clay slips which can be polished and still retain their unique coloration.  Jake Koopee is a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, through his grandmother, Marie Koopee.  He continues the family legacy of dynamic visuals and elegantly formed pottery.  He 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!  He continues to be one of the young leaders of contemporary Hopi pottery!

10"w x 6"h

$3200.00

     Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa   

Steve Lucas is exceptional not only with his use of form, but also with his use of design.  Here are two distinctive pieces of his pottery.  Both bowls are perfectly formed and thin walled. The bowl on the left has a star pattern which encircles the top part of the bowl.  Looking down from the top there is a beautiful symmetry to the pattern on the form.  The jar on the right has a modified bird tail and bird wing pattern around the shoulder.  The area below the shoulder is fully polished red and the entire piece is perfectly balanced on a small base.  Both pieces are painted in black (bee-weed, a plant), red clay slip and a white clay slip.    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.

Left:        Bowl with Star Pattern        7"w x 4"h        $950.00

Right:     Jar with Bird Tail                 9"w x 5.5"h      $1800.00 -  SOLD

Steve Lucas - Hopi-Tewa    

This large plate is one of the few we have ever had from Steve Lucas.  The plate is fully polished on the back and fully designed on the front. The design is a series of inter-connected katchina masks. The red areas are slipped and polished while the black is derived from "bee-weed", a plant.  The white is an additional clay slip, which he has used to highlight some of the painted areas and the masks.  It is an amazingly intricate piece and the thin walls of the plate itself add to the overall beauty of the piece.  Steve has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market!

16" diameter x 3"h

$3600.00

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

$2000.00

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

$3000.00

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

Yvonne Lucas - Laguna/Navajo    NEW

Yvonne Lucas continues to create her own path in reviving historic Laguna pottery.  This small jar is stunning in its use of classic Laguna imagery around the entire piece. The jar is coil built and thin walled.  The designs are a series of plant and rain patterns.  Take a closer look to see the tightly painted lines and intricate patterns on this bowl.  The designs are painted with

bee-weed plant for the black, which is on a white clay slipped surface.  The designs 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.

7"w x 5"h

$900.00

     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 amazingly thin walled and painted using the bee-weed plant to create the black coloration.  The designs are feather, rain and lighting patterns.  The jar is then native fired, creating a beautiful coloration to the white area.  The jar on the right includes not only the black painted areas but also the polished red clay slip.  The design on the sides of the pieces are a flower pattern which is then connected to the next flower medallion with a geometric and fineline pattern.  The top of the jar has a star pattern which connects the four medallions and the cloud 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:        Small Jar with Geometrics        7"w x 6.75"h        $1600.00

Right:     Flat Jar w/ Star Pattern              11"w x 7"h            $4000.00

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

$3200.00

Garrett Maho - Hopi        NEW

Garrett Maho learned to make pottery from his grandmother Marilyn Mahle and his aunt Gloria Mahle.  He continues to use native materials and native firings to create his traditional pottery vessels.  This bowl has four tightly painted bands with a checkerboard pattern which represents the snow. The other four sections all have birds painted as the design.  The bowl has been traditionally fired to create beautiful blushes of color on the clay surface.  Take a closer look at the second image above and note the wonderful detail in each of the birds! The designs are painted with native clay slips and bee-weed (black) and the piece has been native fired.  Garrett has been featured in books on Native pottery and won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and other prestigious events.

7"w x 4"h

$500.00 - SOLD

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. This large jar is a striking example of her pottery, with the narrow base and wide shoulder. The pattern is a bat wing design, extending down from the neck to near the base of the piece.  The interior of the bat wing pattern is painted with a fine-line pattern.  Typical of much of her work, she combined intricate designs with open spacing and strong linear patterns to contrast her elegant forms.  The shape of this jar is striking not only in the wide shoulder, but also the slightly turned out lip.  Helen also polished the interior of all her pottery, which is a technical feat few potters try today, as it increased the potential for breakage.  This piece is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are a few rubs in the black which are not unexpected on earlier Hopi pieces.  The bowl is signed on the bottom with a feather, Helen's hallmark.  She was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Rainy, Burrell and Sylvia Naha.

12"w x 6"h

$4400.00

Nona Naha - Hopi-Tewa   

Nona Naha is a daughter of noted potter Edith Nash and also learned much of her painting technique from Rainy Naha.  Nona is renown for the thin walls of her pottery, giving them an unbelievably light feel!  This seedpot has a classic style parrot painted on the top of the piece.  Note the intricacy of the designs around the entire body of the figure. The design just above the shoulder is a mountain pattern.  The entire piece is painted with native clay slips and native fired.  

4"w x 2.5"h

$275.00

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Rainy Naha brings to life a group of parrots in this jar, which has a group of tumbling parrots.  Each bird is interlocked into the next. The bodies of the birds are painted with native clay slips to create the color and the body of the bowl is slipped with a white clay.  This design is one which has become iconic for Rainy's pottery and reflects her detailed style of painting. This jar has a wonderful shape, with a wide shoulder and slightly elongated neck.  Note the intricacies of the birds and the flow of the design throughout the entire piece!  Rainy learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen (Featherwoman) Naha.  Rainy continues to innovate and also create her own voice among Hopi-Tewa potters. She has won "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007 and numerous other awards at both Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.

6"w x 4"h

$1200.00       

    Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Over the past year, Rainy has made some extraordinary miniatures.  These two smaller pieces are wonderful shapes and both are perfectly painted!  They are thin walled and painted with native clay slips and native fired.  On the left is a classic series of designs, based on the Sikyatki pottery ruins near Hopi.  the detailed designs are reminiscent of the eagle tail pattern, but note the additional dragonfly designs between the panels and the variety of imagery in the four sections.  The bowl on the right has a solstice pattern as the design.  At the top of each section, there is an image of the moon in various stages.  The imagery is meant to represent the various time of the month, as well as times of the year and the influence of the moon on the traditional Hopi calendar for katchina dances.  Each piece is native fired and painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips for the colors.  Rainy continues to innovate and also create her own voice among Hopi-Tewa potters. She has won numerous awards, including "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007.

Left:              Seedpot with Sikyati Mosaic                  4.25"w x 2.5"h          $700.00

Right:           Bowl with Solstice Pattern                       4.25"w x 2.75"h        $800.00

  Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Almost ten year ago Rainy Naha brought her first "solstice" bowl into our gallery.  Today, each time she revisits this design, it has evolved in style and imagery.  This bowl is an amazingly intricate example of her style of painting.  The central design is the four phases of the moon.  They are surrounded by cloud, rain and geometric patterns. When looking down from the top, there is an additional star pattern created with the red clay slip, separating the stages of the moon.  As well, on the sides, Rainy has painted the rain clouds extending down into the negative space on the sides of the bowl. The painting is simply exquisite, with very tight lines and a wide variety colors!  Each piece is native fired and painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips for the colors.  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!

5.5"w x 3.25"h

$1000.00

  Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa   NEW

Each year Rainy continues to evolve her pottery designs.  This jar is a new pattern which is partially inspired by the work of her mother, Helen "Featherwoman" Naha.  The jar is thin walled and painted with native clay slips and native fired.  The design is a whirlwind pattern.  The whirlwind pattern is around the neck with the circles and the lines.  The band of polychrome design above the shoulder is all painted at an angle.  Rainy said that "it was tilted from the wind".  The imagery in the panels are all from Awatovi or Sikyatki pre-historic pottery designs.  Note the variety of colors, as Rainy often mixes clays to create her own unique colorations.  Typical of her pottery, it is very detailed in design!  The colors are created from native clay slips while the black area is painted with bee-weed, which is a plant.  Rainy continues to innovate and also create her own distinctive voice among Hopi-Tewa potters. She has won numerous awards, including "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2007.

5.5"w x 3.5"h

$1200.00   

Rainy Naha - Hopi-Tewa  

Rainy Naha learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen Naha, who was also known as "Featherwoman".  Helen was inspired by the archeological excavation at Awatovi, a ruin near Hopi.  This was where she began to replicate many of her famous black on white designs.  This is Rainy's second large tile and she has depicted the Mural Wall from the Awatovi Ruin!  It is amazing how she captured the various images which were painted onto the walls.  She has also incised into the clay to capture areas where the painted designs had fallen away, giving it a more historical appearance to the real murals.  She has also give the tile rough edges so it captures more of the ancient feel to these murals. This piece captures both a moment in history and also reflects the continuation of Hopi culture!  This tile 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. It is definitely an exciting piece by Rainy, combining a new style with historic perspective!

6" x 4"

$675.00 - SOLD

Sylvia Naha was a daughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman) and sister of Rainy Naha.  Sylvia created pieces with the white clay polished surface painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  Throughout the 1980's, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were unusual in form and amazingly intricate in design. This bowl is a classic example of her style, as the piece has a narrow base, wide shoulder and a small neck.  The top half is painted iwth a lizard and corn pattern.  The area surrounding the two images is stippled with the black slip to create a textured appearance.  The bottom half of the bowl has the Awatovi star pattern, which was made famous by her mother.  The star is perfectly painted and contrasts the traditional with the contemporary on one vessel.  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and an "S".  It is certainly a classic design form this remarkable Hopi-Tewa potter.

6"w x 4"h

This canister is one of the largest pieces we have come across by Sylvia Naha in years.  Sylvia Naha was a daughter of noted potter Helen Naha (Featherwoman) and sister of Rainy Naha.  Sylvia created pieces with the white clay polished surface painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  Throughout the 1980's, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were unusual in form and amazingly intricate in design. This canister is a reflection of the intricacy of her painted designs. The shape is perfect as a "canvas" for her elongated lizards.  There are four lizards on this piece, each in pairs. There are two which are fully designed with intricate pottery shard patterns.  The other two lizards have a black and white triangular motif.  Between the two sets of lizards are stalks of corn.  The background of the piece has been stippled with a brown clay.  This canister is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is a unique design and shape from this phenomenal Hopi-Tewa potter.

9"w x 11.75"h

Les Namingha is certainly one of the creative and dynamic potters working today.  For almost twenty years now he has pushed the edge of what is expected in Hopi pottery forms and designs.  Each piece brings together his own distinctive interpretation of  Hopi and the world around him. This jar is designed with birds as the central motif.  It is the linear geometrics and dots which make up most of the second jar on the right.  The bird here is painted with a white clay slip on top of a linear geometric form.  This jar is made with native clay and painted with native clay slips.  While Les uses acrylics on some of his work, it is the native clays which give his work additional depth are connection to the historic vessels of Nampeyo of Hano.  The fine lines of his painting and the thin walls of his vessels are indicative of the training he had from his aunt,  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  He has won awards at events such as the Heard Museum Indian Fair, and continues the creative evolution of Hopi pottery.

6"w x 4.25"h              

$1200.00

Les Namingha is a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano, and learned to make pottery from his aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  His vessels are well constructed with thin walls and graceful forms.  This recent jar  continues his exploration of traditional imagery through his painted designs.  The entire vessel is painted with acrylics and all the imagery is derived from Hopi pottery.  He as entitled this piece "New Migration".    The low shoulder has a wave pattern and above are a series of lightning bolts, all in different colors.  The white lightning bolt seems to crack through a dark sky, down to the waves.  The area below the shoulder has a geometric pattern, with grey and green earth tones.  Les is among the most innovative and dynamic of today's Hopi-Tewa potters.  Each piece brings together his own distinctive view of  Hopi and the world around him.  He has won awards at events such as the Heard Museum Indian Fair, and continues the creative evolution of Hopi pottery.

9"w x 9"h

    Laurence Namoki - Hopi-Tewa       

It seems like years since we have had new work by Laurence Namoki.  He just brought in these two pieces, which are his most recent innovation of polychrome painted pottery.  The colors are all derived from natural clay slips.  Laurence created a deeply-carved pottery in the 1980's which had the appearance of wood to the surface.  These pieces have a similar appearance at the lip and base.  The bowl on the left has a carved red design which is slipped with a red clay, around the neck.  Around the shoulder is a solstice design which has numerous Hopi designs and symbols.  The long neck jar on the right has more Hopi celestial designs as the pattern in a larger space. Each of the designs has a symbolic meaning and tells of the Hopi migrations and the stars.  Laurence has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Indian Fair.  He continues to be a wonderful innovator in Hopi pottery.

Left:        Solstice Bowl                3.75"w x 3"h            $400.00

Right:     Solstice Jar                     3.5"w x 5"h             $500.00

Nampeyo of Hano (1857-1942) - Hopi   

Nampeyo of Hano was the matriarch of a family of renown Hopi potters. Her revival of pre-historic Sikyatki pottery and designs has influenced the world of Hopi pottery to this day.  This unique canister has two rounded bird tail designs and between are two geometric patterns.  Most likely the piece was made by Nampeyo and then painted by one of her daughters, either Annie or Fannie.  The piece is signed on the bottom, "Nampeyo".  This signature is typically either written as, "NAmpeyo" or "Nampeyo".  There is a general consensus that these pieces were made by Nampeyo of Hano, but an uncertainty of the capital "A" denotes work by Fannie or Annie.  The canister is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a great addition to a collection of Hopi pottery!

5.75"w x 5"h

$1800.00 - SOLD

      Clinton Polacca Nampeyo - Hopi-Tewa   

Clinton Polacca Nampeyo is a son of Harold Polacca, a grandson of Fannie Nampeyo and a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano.  He is well known for his classic Hopi style pottery.  The jar on the left has a bat wing pattern painted in four sections around the entire piece.  The jar on the right has the classic migration pattern.  Note the complexity of the lines!  Both pieces are wonderful shapes with tightly painted designs.

Left:        Jar with Bat Wing Design            6"w x 6"h        $350.00

Right:     Jar with Migration Pattern          5"w x 6.5"h      $350.00 - SOLD

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.  Among all her work, there are few designs which are as famous as her stylized "migration pattern".  This flowing design was revived by Nampeyo of Hano, but Fannie made it a signature of her work with finely detailed lines connected throughout the entire piece.  This jar is beautifully painted and a classic shape with a wide shoulder and slightly turned out neck.  The coloration of the clay from the firing has created some beautiful fire clouds.  This jar is in very good condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is only small slightly worn area of the black near the base, otherwise it is in great shape.  It is definitely a classic shape and design by this important Hopi-Tewa potter!

7.25"w x 4.75"h

$2000.00- SOLD

Fannie Nampeyo (1900 - 1987) - Hopi-Tewa   

Fannie Nampeyo certainly among the most skilled of her generation for painting designs pottery. She was the youngest daughter of noted potter Nampeyo of Hano.  This canteen is a classic Hopi shape with a flat back and a rounded front. Traditionally this form would be hung on a wall, which is why it has a flat back.  The design is a bird wing or migration pattern.  The canteen is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is some wear on the black which is typical with pieces this age.  It is not often that we come across her canteens, so it is definitely an unique piece by this important Hopi-Tewa potter!

6" long x 7"w x 4"h

$1800.00

      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 on the surface.  Here are two distinctive pieces, each with a different style of corn and husk.  The bowl on the left has an asymmetrical mouth and a more distinctive shoulder for the corn design.  The jar on the right has a more globular form with a bit of a neck and the corn is more concealed in the husk.  Both pieces are a beige color, which is the natural color of the Hopi clay.  The corn is symbolic not only of Iris being a member of the Corn Clan, but corn is also a symbol of prosperity in Hopi culture.  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.

Left:        Bowl with Corn                    2.75"w x 3.5"h           $550.00 - SOLD

Right:     Jar with Corn                         3.5"w x 3.75"h           $900.00 - SOLD

Priscilla comes from a family of renown potters. She was a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and granddaughter of Annie Healing and sister of Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo.  Priscilla was also the matriarch of a family of renown potters, including Rachel, Bonnie, Nyla and Jean Sahmie.  Priscilla began making pottery when she was only seven years old, under the guidance of Nampeyo of Hano.  She was renown for her classic style of pottery with beautiful forms and traditional imagery.  Here are three distinctive pieces of her pottery from 1971-2.  The canister on the left is thin walled and painted with the classic migration pattern.  The bowl in the center is made with the red clay and painted with bee-weed for the black to make the migration pattern.  The canister on the right is also made with the red clay and has a migration pattern.  All three pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Priscilla's pottery can be found in numerous books on Hopi pottery and various magazine articles in Arizona Highways throughout the years.

Left:        Canister with Migration Pattern                2.5"w x 3.5"h        $175.00

Center:   Red Bowl with Migration Pattern             4"w x 3"h               $250.00 - SOLD

Right:     Red Canister with Migration Pattern        3"w x 3.5"h           $200.00 - SOLD

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.  This large jar is stunning in both form and design.  It is a classic migration pattern, consisting of eight bird wings on the top and the bottom.  Note the wide shoulder, which is a very typical form for Priscilla's vessels.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Priscilla's pottery can be found in numerous books on Hopi pottery and various magazine articles in Arizona Highways throughout the years.

12"w x 7"h

$2800.00

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

Tonita Nampeyo is a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and the mother of Loren Hamilton.  She is also the sister of noted potters Elva Nampeyo, Leah Nampeyo, Thomas Polacca and Iris Nampeyo.  Tonita is renown for her continued use of traditional imagery and traditional firing techniques.  This stunning jar has a classic migration pattern painted around the entire piece.  Note how beautifully the lines are painted!  The pattern fits perfectly to the shape, which is accented by a slightly turned out lip.  Tonita has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in numerous books, including "The Art of the Hopi".

6.5"w x 4.5"h

$700.00 - 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. This jar is a stunning shape with a narrow base, sharp shoulder and a turned out neck. The jar has a classic geometric rain and cloud pattern.  There are additional dragonfly designs painted below the shoulder.  The natural color of the clay is a beautiful contrast to the  black and red slipped sections of the design.  The red is a natural clay slip which is in contrast to the black (bee-weed), which is derived from a plant. 

9"w x 6.5"h

$500.00

Charles Navasie is a grandson of noted potter Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie.  This bowl continues on in the family style of white slipped pottery.  The design on the top is a frog, which is painted with native clay slips for the red and bee-weed for the black. Note how the body of the frog is made up of various geometric patterns. It is a perfect shape piece for this unique design! 

7.5"w x 3.25"h

$800.00 - SOLD

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 wedding vase is from the 1970's and has a bird as the main design with the tail on the spout, looping down towards the body of the piece.  There  are also designs on the handle.  The wedding vase is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

4"w x 6"h

$700.00

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

7.5"w x 10.5"h

$3600.00

Anita Polacca (b. 1940) - Hopi-Tewa    NEW

Anita Polacca is a daughter of noted potter Violet Huma.  This canteen is a beautiful piece of her pottery!  It is a classic shape with a bird pattern painted on the front.  The back is flat and it has been traditionally fired to create beautiful blushes in color on the surface.  The canteen is definitely a beautiful piece of her pottery and a classic example of Hopi pottery!

8"long x 8.5"w x 7"h

$350.00

Gary Polacca - Hopi-Tewa    

Gary Polacca is a son of noted potter Thomas Polacca, and continues in his father's tradition of carved and painted pottery.  This large jar has deeply carved Hopi dancers as the main imagery.  They are holding dance wands in their hands and are surrounded by traditional Hopi designs.  Note the various layers to the carved designs and how they encircle the entire piece, leaving no area but the small neck un-carved!  This jar is a beautiful example of the pottery by this talented potter!

7"w x 9.5"h

$900.00

Thomas Polacca (1935-2003) - Hopi-Tewa   

Undoubtedly this is one of the most important, classic style pieces by Thomas Polacca, who was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo . This lidded jar is inspired by the male Shalako Katsina.  The piece is from 1981, when Thomas was at the height of his innovation and still not only using native clays but also native firing his pottery.  When Thomas first began to make pottery in the early 1970's he was one of the first Hopi men to both make and paint his own pottery.  However, to overcome a negative reaction to making more "traditional pottery", he began to carve into the clay.  This Shalako has 32 large feathers carved just above the shoulder and then 32 smaller feathers carved just above them!  The entire piece is fully painted with native clays to give the appearance of wood.  This style was exciting and innovative at the time and few potters today venture to both carve pieces to this extent and paint them them with such intricacy!  Note how each feather is fully painted.  It is also amazing that the lid and tablita and the elongated neck survived the firing!  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a signature addition to any collection and a wonderful piece of history to the continuing evolution of Hopi pottery!

8"w x 13.5"h w/ lid

$1500.00

Bernadette Poleahla - Hopi   

Bernadette Polehala learned to make pottery from her grandmother, Frieda Polehala.  Growing up in the village of Sichomovi at First Mesa, she only began making pottery in earnest several years ago.  She has quickly found an exciting direction for her work. The variance of colors and textures of matte and polished surfaces gives each piece a distinctive appearance.  The bowl on the left has a classic kiva step pattern around the rim while the bottom is a full shard pattern.  The shards are each designed in a different color clay and some are painted with others are etched.   The native firing of her pottery creates a beautiful blush and coloration to the clay.  She is doing some creative work and we certainly look forward to more work from this outstanding "up and coming" potter!

5.5"w  x 2.5"h

$400.00

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

$400.00 - SOLD

Dextra Nampeyo Quotskuyva (b. 1928) - Hopi Tewa    

Dextra is a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano, descending through her eldest daughter, Annie Healing.  For almost forty years she has been one of the most creative, innovative and influential potters at Hopi. This bowl is from the late 1970's and has a fineline shawl pattern as the main design.  The bowl includes additional white and red clay slips to create the designs.  The design has numerous fineline areas and it is beautifully constructed with a slight flare to the rim.  Take a closer look at the image and note the intricacy of the designs!   She continues to use bee-weed for the black and native clay slips for the white and red.  Note how she has etched onto the wings to make them more realistic!  Dextra has been the subject of a book and exhibition at the Wheelwright Museum, entitled, "Painted Perfection". 

4"w x 4"h

$2000.00

Jean Sahmie is a daughter of noted potter Pricilla Nampeyo. She his renown for her use of innovative designs on traditional forms.  This is a charming tile with classic Hopi designs.  The center is a katchina with surrounding geometric patterns.  They are painted black with bee-weed (a plant) and there are additional red and burgundy clay slips.  Jean is amazingly creative and has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.

5" x 4"

$175.00

Diana Tahbo is a sister of noted potter, Mark Tahbo.  This beautiful jar is a classic of her style with a highly polished surface and beautifully painted designs.  This piece is from 1997 and while she is not doing much pottery today, it is a reflection of the quality and innovation of her work.  This jar has a plant design on the top, painted with a red clay slip.  The area below has stylized birds at the motif.  Note as well the exceptional firing on this jar!  The color variations from near white to darkish red are all created by the heat and intensity of the firing!  Dian has won numerous awards for her pottery and is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay".

6"w x 3.5"h

$500.00

Mark Tahbo is a great-grandson of noted potter Grace Chapella.  He is renown for his wonderful forms and boldly painted designs. This jar is a spectacular shape with a narrow base, wide shoulder and slightly turned out rim.  It is the first time that Mark has tried to paint a piece in "negative"!  He had to outline the bats and then paint the entire surrounding surface black using bee-weed, which is a plant. The jar has a series of Mimbres inspired bats encircling the entire surface!  Each one is different and take a closer look at both the top and bottom of this piece, as the work is fantastic!  The jar itself it native fired outdoor, creating the beautiful colorations in the clay.  It is always exciting to see such a revolutionary piece from Mark.  He has won numerous awards for his pottery and is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay".

6"w x 4"h

$800.00 - SOLD

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

6.25"w x 4.5"h

$550.00

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.  This jar has a graceful form and a high polish.  There is a single medallion, with a "bird man" as the design.  Mark has made a series of pieces in which he has taken animals and given them human form.  Note how the wings and skirt almost seem to be made up of pottery shards!  The rim is slipped with numerous clay slips, in a "painterly" manner.  Mark has won numerous awards for his pottery and is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay".

5.5"w x 9"h

$1500.00

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

12"w x 6"h

$1800.00

Hopi Pottery  __________

Preston Duwyenie - Hopi  

Preston Duwyenie is renown for his simple yet elegant pottery.  He is from Second Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.  This large jar is based on the pre-historic Sikyatki revival pottery, which is famous for its wide, flat shoulder.  The jar is made from a micaceous clay and then has a micaceous clay slip applied to the surface.  The piece is fired black, but with the micaceous surface, it almost has a more "gunmetal" or metallic appearance.  While the vessel itself is beautifully proportioned, Preston has given it an asymmetrical mouth, higher in the back than in the front.  He has also inset a piece of silver into the surface of the clay. He casts the silver from cuttlefish bone and then cuts it to the correct shape and then insets it after the vessel is fired.  The silver pieces are meant to represent either the shifting sand around Hopi, or a lake or water.  Take a closer look at the silver piece above and the tight ripple design! Preston has won numerous awards for his pottery, including "Best of Show" at the Heard Indian Market.  

11"w x 5"h

$1000.00 - SOLD

Preston Duwyenie - Hopi  

Preston Duwyenie has won numerous awards for his simple yet elegant pottery.  This plate is a classic design made from white Hopi clay.  The back is fully stone polished while the front is matte.  The design is a "shifting sand" pattern, meant to replicate the natural beauty of the sand in the desert.  There is a single inset of a piece of coral in the clay, showing how one small object can change the direction of all that goes around it.  Preston is from Second Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.  He has been featured in numerous books and has his artwork in museums nationwide.

10.5" diameter

$800.00

     Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

We are very excited to have new polychrome pottery from this outstanding potter! Al Qoyawayma has long challenged traditional notions of Hopi pottery.  Al is from Third Mesa and a nephew of noted potter Elizabeth White.  His background in engineering is reflected in his pottery and delicate yet surprising forms his pottery is able to achieve.   On the left is a smaller jar is spectacular in both form and design.  Al calls this shape with a narrow base and mouth a "wish jar", after pieces made by his aunt Elizabeth.  The entire vessel is fully polished and there are carved designs on each side.  One side has a old style butterfly while the other has flowers.  The butterfly is again a tribute to Elizabeth White, who's Hopi name, "Polingaysi" translates to butterfly.  What makes this jar so special is the use of three different clay slips which are used to highlight the carved surfaces.  The butterfly has two levels of carving with the deepest level a dark brown and then two other clay slips used for the body and the wins.  The flowers also have two layers of carving and additional clay colors added. On the right is a serenity jar with an asymmetrical mouth.  The design on one side is a lizard carved into the clay and then painted with natural clay slips.  The other side has a stylized parrot.  Take a closer look and note how areas have also been texturized with his stylized corn pattern.  The polish is perfect and the complement of the various clay colorations is simply elegant!  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:        Wish Pot with Butterfly and Flowers            3.25"w x 6"h            $2700.00

Right:     Serenity Jar with Lizard and Parrot               4"w x 7"h                 $3600.00

   Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

We are very excited to have this new work from this outstanding potter! This bowl is inspired by the pre-historic Sikyatki pottery, which has a wide, flat shoulder.  Al has made this piece with a beautiful mauve colored clay!  The piece has been stone polished in a vertical or "onion-skin" manner.  Al calls this piece, "The Path of Life".  Note the small raised area near the mouth, it has been carved with an ancient style pueblo wall and key-hole doorway. Take a closer look at the images and note how the walls are tightly carved and etched to create the feeling of actual stone. Simply amazing!  Interestingly, the door is visible from both the front and the back of the piece!  The idea of the piece is that in one's path of life, there is always a new door leading somewhere and sometimes the door is an unexpected opening.  This vessel shows how Al continues to redefine the notions of traditional Hopi pottery.  He is from  Third Mesa and a nephew of noted potter Elizabeth White.  His background in engineering is reflected in his pottery and delicate yet surprising forms his pottery is able to achieve.  Al has won numerous awards for his pottery and been featured in books such as "The Art of Clay".  His work can be found in museums nationwide and continues to be an exciting addition to any collection!   

12"w x 5.75"h

$5400.00

Al Qoyawayma - Hopi  

We are very excited to have this new work from this outstanding potter! Al Qoyawayma has long challenged traditional notions of Hopi pottery.  Al is from Third Mesa and a nephew of noted potter Elizabeth White.  His background in engineering is reflected in his pottery and delicate yet surprising forms his pottery is able to achieve.  Several years ago he began making polychrome pottery, which pushed his work to a new level.  Each piece is fully carved and then the carved areas are painted with different natural clay slips.  This large polychrome vase is entitled, "Kiva Pept".  The name of this piece comes from the Pottery Mound ruin in New Mexico. When it was excavated in 1958-9, panels were found on the walls with distinct Sikyatki style designs.  One such panel was found in his designation “Kiva 9”, or kiva pept in Hopi. The entire vessel is fully polished and there is a rectangular panel which has been carved, incised and slipped with native clay slips. Take a closer look at the fourth image above, and note the incredible dimension of the carved surface, as he has four levels of carving in this design! 

Al says, "My design on the vase was influenced by a panel found in Kiva  9 which was far more complex than the design I have adapted for use on the vase I call “Kiva Pept”. In my use of anything related to my Sikyatki ancestors I use the influence of the design by picking how and where to incise, selection of slip colors, etc.  It is the “style” that is important and the fact that in my re-creation that the vessel and design becomes my relative, for I am breathing in the essence of my relatives in the distant past. I often refer to pots as my children. So I have many children." 

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!   

7.75"w x 13"h

$14,000.00

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. The jar on the left is a stunning example of his pottery!  The 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! The jar on the right is one of the most complex pieces of his work we have had in the gallery.  It is an elegant shape with tall sides and a sloping neck.  The designs around the body of the piece are traditional Navajo Yei figures along with bear paws and petroglyh patterns.  The contrast between matte and polished surfaces, along with the use of micaceous clay above the shoulder, creates a visually stunning piece.  The firing technique making this brown is also part of the overall appeal, as it gives it a more traditional "Navajo" appearance in coloration.  Harrison has won numerous awards for his work and continues to be one of the leading innovators in Native American Indian pottery.

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

Right:        Brown Jar with Yei Figures                          6"w x 7.25"h       $1500.00

Jerome Begay & Melissa Johnson are both self taught potters.  Growing up on the Navajo reservation, they saw traditional Navajo pottery being made and decided they would learn to make pottery themselves.  We are pleased to have work by this exceptional husband and wife team. The vessels are all coil built and stone polished.  They are then traditionally fired to create the various colorations on the surface.  The bowl on the left has a red clay slip and there are "ribs" carved into the side of the bowl.  They have been left the natural color of the clay to contrast with the red of the clay slip.  The tall jar in the center has beautiful coloration from the firing, with colors ranging from deep red to black.  The swirls are deeply carved and a perfect complement to the form.  The jar on the right has a wide shoulder and more variations to the colors from the firing.  The colors on each vessel range from black to deep red, which are derived from the native firing as the smoke touches the clay and creates the darker areas.  After the firing, each piece is covered in pine-pitch, a continuation of the traditional Navajo pottery when pitch was used to make the pieces water proof.  We definitely look forward to seeing more exceptional pottery from these young talents!

Left:            Melon Bowl with Tan Ribs            5.5"w x 4.5"h        $150.00

Center:       Tall Melon Jar with Swirl Ribs     5"w x 6"h               $200.00 - SOLD

Right:          Melon Jar with Swirl Ribs            5"w x 5"h               $175.00

Jerome Begay & Melissa Johnson - Navajo    NEW

This is a fantastic bowl from Jerome Begay & Melissa Johnson, who are both self taught potters.  Growing up on the Navajo reservation, they saw traditional Navajo pottery being made and decided they would learn to make pottery themselves.  We are pleased to have work by this exceptional husband and wife team. The vessels are all coil built and stone polished.  They are then traditionally fired to create the various colorations on the surface.  This bowl is like a large seedpot, and very round in form.  They have carved a series of ribs into the clay extending from the neck and up from the base.  The deeply carved bands are further accentuated by the stunning coloration from the firing.  The colors on each vessel range from black to deep red, which are derived from the native firing as the smoke touches the clay and creates the darker areas.  After the firing, each piece is covered in pine-pitch, a continuation of the traditional Navajo pottery when pitch was used to make the pieces water proof.  We definitely look forward to seeing more exceptional pottery from these young talents!

7"w x 6.25"h

$400.00

    Alice Cling - Navajo    

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

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

Right:     Large Jar with High Shoulder                    8.5"w x 10"h         $900.00

 Samuel Manymules - Navajo    NEW

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

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

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

Samuel Manymules - Navajo    

Samuel Manymules is certainly one of the most refined and elegant Navajo potters working today.  His focus on form and surface has given his simple pieces an unparalleled beauty.  This water jar is a wonderful shape, with a wide shoulder and a flared mouth. The jar has four appliqué frog attached onto the sides before the firing.  They are each hollow and have been slipped with a different color clay to contrast to the red of the jar.  This is the first time Samuel has created a piece with frogs added onto the surface.  The jar has been outdoor fired to create the stunning coloration from the fire, which give the black and red combinations.  Samuel has won numerous awards for his stunning pieces at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.

12.75"w x 10.5"h

$4200.00

     Christine McHorse - Navajo    

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

8.5"w x 7.75"h

$2000.00

    Joel McHorse - Navajo    

Joel McHorse is a son of noted potter Christine McHorse.  While he long longer makes much pottery, his pieces were very innovative and often incorporated the use of silver.  This open bowl is more traditional Navajo imagery, as there are the symbols for the four directions incised into the clay.  The entire piece has been outdoor fired and then covered with pine pitch. The use of the pitch is both traditional on Navajo pottery and also helps to emphasize the designs.

9"w x 2.5"h

$600.00 - SOLD

Lorraine Williams - Navajo    NEW

Lorraine Williams is one of the great innovators among Navajo potters.  She has created her own unique style of pottery, which is incised with traditional rug and Navajo designs, then painted and native fired.  After the piece is fired it is covered in pine pitch, which is typical of all traditional Navajo pottery harkening back to when it was utilitarian.  This bowl is fully designed with a series of rug patterns, which encircle the piece in various bands.  The designs are painted with clay slips before the piece is fired.  The coloration of the clay is derived from the outdoor firing.  Lorraine has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "A Legacy of Generations". 

5"w x 3.25"h

$125.00

Lorraine Williams - Navajo    

This is one of the largest pieces we have seen in years by Lorraine Williams.  She is one of the great innovators among Navajo potters, creating her own unique style of pottery is incised with traditional rug and Navajo designs, then painted and native fired.  After the piece is fired it is covered in pine pitch, which is typical of all traditional Navajo pottery harkening back to when it was utilitarian.  This large jar has a wider shoulder and the design is incised and painted onto the shoulder and just gently towards the neck.  She has created a mountain pattern which appears even more elegant with the rich colorations from the firing.  Note the mouth which is a darker color from the smoke of the firing!  Lorraine has won numerous awards for her pottery and been featured in books such as "A Legacy of Generations". 

16"w x 16"h

$2000.00 - SOLD

Sue Ann Williams - Navajo    

Sue Ann Williams is a sister of noted potters Alice Cling and Susie Crank.  This is a beautiful example of her pottery with a high shoulder and a carved rim. The design on the rim is either a kiva step pattern or a mesa design.  The various colorations of the clay are derived from the outdoor firing.  After the piece has been fired, it is covered in pine pitch, which harkens back to classic Navajo pottery which used pine pitch to make the pieces utilitarian.

5.5"w x 4.5"h

$150.00 -  SOLD