Manygoats, Rita – Open Bowl with Six Horned Lizards

Rita Manygoats is a daughter of Betty Manygoats and a sister of Elizabeth Manygoats.  Each piece is coil-built using traditional Navajo clay.  She was taught to make pottery by her mother.  This is a classic open bowl with six horned lizards in relief on the surface.  It is much in the style of Betty’s work, but not the precision of each of the lizards!  The bowl was traditionally fired to create the blushes on the surface.  After the firing, it was covered in pinon-pitch in the manner of traditional Navajo pottery.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “R. Manygoats” It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Why the horned lizard?  “In the Diné culture, Horned Toad is addressed as “grandpa” (shicheii). It possesses spiritual power. When you see one, pick it up and rub it on your chest and say, “I will be in good health and harmony.” If you have corn pollen, sprinkle it as an offering and then let the horned lizard loose where you found it. You will then have good health and harmony. It is believed that the horned toad is dressed with an armored shield, which is called arrowhead. The spiky horns on the body represent the arrowheads. This protects the horned toad from predators. It was placed on earth with songs and prayers so that in the future, the Diné would utilize it. The Diné still know and use its sacred prayers and songs for protection.”  Traditional Dine Teachings on Wildlife (1998)