Cordero, Helen & Kevin Peshlakai – “Drummer” Clay Figure (1980s)
$ 2,500.00
This is a collaborative figure by Helen Cordero and her grandson, Kevin Peshlakai. She is undoubtedly one of the great names in Cochiti pottery. It was in 1964 that Cordero said she made her first storyteller. According to her, “I made some more of my Storytellers with lots of children climbing on him to listen, then I took them up to the Santo Domingo Feast Day” and the rest is history. Her early pieces were all males, to honor her grandfather, whom she would hear telling children stories of Pueblo life and culture. She received the New Mexico Governor’s award in 1982 and the NEA Heritage Fellowship in 1986. This piece was made in the 1980s, and she taught most of her grandchildren to make pottery, including Tim Cordero and Buffy Cordero. She would often make collaborative pieces with them when they came to visit during the summer. This piece was made by Helen and then painted by Kevin. The shape of the mouth, the body, and the style of the figure are definitely Helen’s. The piece is painted using bee-weed (black) and red clay slips on a white clay surface. The Drummer has a clay drum and the mallet is made from wood and leather. The piece is tightly painted with a detailed necklace and classic designs on the drum. It is signed on the bottom, “Helen Cordero Kevin Peshlakai”. This is the only collaborative piece of their work we have had in the gallery. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
In stock
This is a collaborative figure by Helen Cordero and her grandson, Kevin Peshlakai. She is undoubtedly one of the great names in Cochiti pottery. It was in 1964 that Cordero said she made her first storyteller. According to her, “I made some more of my Storytellers with lots of children climbing on him to listen, then I took them up to the Santo Domingo Feast Day” and the rest is history. Her early pieces were all males, to honor her grandfather, whom she would hear telling children stories of Pueblo life and culture. She received the New Mexico Governor’s award in 1982 and the NEA Heritage Fellowship in 1986. This piece was made in the 1980s, and she taught most of her grandchildren to make pottery, including Tim Cordero and Buffy Cordero. She would often make collaborative pieces with them when they came to visit during the summer. This piece was made by Helen and then painted by Kevin. The shape of the mouth, the body, and the style of the figure are definitely Helen’s. The piece is painted using bee-weed (black) and red clay slips on a white clay surface. The Drummer has a clay drum and the mallet is made from wood and leather. The piece is tightly painted with a detailed necklace and classic designs on the drum. It is signed on the bottom, “Helen Cordero Kevin Peshlakai”. This is the only collaborative piece of their work we have had in the gallery. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Helen Cordero