Polacca, Thomas – 8″ Tall Red Carved Jar with Eagles and Sun Designs (1976-9)

This is an intricately designed large jar by Thomas Polacca.  Thomas was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano.  He is considered among the first men to begin making pottery at Hopi in the 1970s.  Interestingly, the men initially did not use the traditional Sikyatki designs but followed other directions in their pottery.  This jar is from a brief period in his career when he would fully polish the pieces red and then etch and carve away designs.  The jar has a high shoulder and asymmetric neck.  There are two large eagles along with two large Tewa sun designs.  There are additional cloud and geometric designs carved into the clay.  Near the base are additional carved feathers.   The background area has been stippled for texture.  This period was one of innovation for Thomas and a transition from a few more ‘traditional” Hopi designs to the pieces that looked like wood. This is also the largest of these pieces we have had in the gallery.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tom Polacca”.  It is from 1976-9)

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Polacca, Thomas (1935 - 2003)

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 make and design pottery in the 1970s. Wallace and Thomas told the story that they first tried making pottery with "traditional" designs. Still, there was resistance from the women, so they began to create a new style of Hopi pottery with carved designs, much like Hopi Katsinas. 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.