Komalestewa, Alton – 10″ Tall Brown Jar with 16 Impressed Gourd Indentions

This is a rather amazing large jar by Alton Komalestewa.  It is a fully polished and fired a striking dark brown coloration.  The jar has sixteen “gourd” intentions around the neck of the piece. These are areas when the clay is pushed inwards.  The style is called a “gourd” design, after the gourd shards used to smooth out the inside of the pottery when it is being made.  On this piece they are oval in shape and create beautiful areas of reflection and depth.  The style of pushing the clay inward to create melon ribs or gourd intentions is a technique he as taught by Helen Shupla and it is much like the ribs on the melon bowls.  The jar is vertically polished and traditionally fired, so there are some slight colorations, but overall a rich brown color.  The jar is signed on the bottom by Alton and he also uses a katsina face as part of the hallmark of his name.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Brand

Komalestewa, Alton (b.1959)

[caption id="attachment_55950" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Alton Komalestewa (Hopi-Tewa), Melon Jar[/caption] Alton Komalestewa is a great grandson of Nampeyo of Hano through her son William Komalestewa (1893-1922). Alton learned to make pottery from Santa Clara potter Helen Shupla. She taught him how to make her classic style of melon bowls with the undulating ribs.