Adelle Nampeyo is known for her stylistic use of traditional Hopi designs.  This jar has a round shoulder and asymmetric rim.  It has a classic migration pattern painted on the jar.  There are eight bird wings above the shoulder and eight below. They are connected by thin lines, telling the “migration story” which is a classic Hopi-Tewa pattern revived by Nampeyo of Hano and tells the story of the migration of people around the world.  The jar is traditionally fired to create coloration on the surface of the jar.  The coloration reveals shades from white to orange.  It is signed on the bottom, “Adelle Nampeyo”.

Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo said of  the migration pattern:

“This is the one design that was really stressed for us to use, the migration pattern. Nothing but lines, representing the migration of all the people to all the places, including down below and up above.  All the x’s represent life from the bottom and top, telling you the universe is one. The thin lines, I just wanted to paint them real fast and real close to try and include everyone.”  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, Spoken Through Clay