Begaye, Nathan – 14″ Tall Green “Cloud Jar” (1997)

WOW!  This is a spectacular jar by Nathan Begaye.  He was a unique innovator among Pueblo and Navajo potters.  His ancestry of both Hopi and Navajo let his work flow between the two distinctive styles and yet find their own unique space.  His work used traditional designs, forms, and techniques, yet somehow appeared very modern.  For many of his pieces, he would talk about them being “layered”, much like his own cultural and personal experiences.  That is often the best way to look at these pieces and extract something from each of the varied layers. This is one of his famous “cloud jars”.  All the ‘designs” are pushed out in the clay making it a very technical jar!  There are angles and rounded areas, each creating its own design section.  The jar is fully polished with green clay (it is a clay that is high in copper) and then traditionally fired.  The smoke from the firing gives the piece added depth of color.  The jar was made in 1997 and the tiny white tag on the bottom is the original inventory number from Robert Nichols Gallery, who represented Nathan throughout most of his career.  Looking through all the layers of “clouds”, the jar becomes a fascinating balance of color, form, design, and contrasting shapes. The jar is signed on the bottom, “Nathan Begay ’97”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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Begaye, Nathan (1958-2010)

Nathan Begaye was a unique innovator among Pueblo and Navajo potters. His ethnic connection to both Hopi and Navajo let his work flow between the two distinctive styles and yet find their own unique space. His work used traditional designs, forms, and techniques, yet somehow appeared very modern. Nathan was one of the innovators of Native pottery and was 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.