Kahe, Gloria – Tall Jar with Hopi Birds and Shard Designs

Gloria Kahe (b. 1951) is Navajo and married Samuel Kahe in 1970.  She learned to make pottery from her mother-in-law Marcella Kahe.  She is the mother of Valerie Kahe and her sister-in-law is Karen Kahe Charley.  This jar is made from red Hopi clay.  It is fully painted with three sections of swirling birds The bird wings are near the neck and the bodies are made up of pottery shard designs.  It is a very complex and flowing pattern.  The designs are painted with bee-weed (black) and highlighted with additional clay slip. The jar was traditionally fired so there are light blushes on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “G. Kahe”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  There is some fugitive black on the rim.