Koopee, Jacob – “All Roads Lead to Home” Bowl (2005)

5.75"w x 4.5"h

$ 1,800.00

This is very intricately designed bowl by Jacob Koopee.  It is entitled, “All Roads Lead to Home”.   The bowl is made from the red Hopi clay, and not something that he used very often.  The designs are very tightly painted shard patterns.  There is a similar (but larger) piece at the Museum of Northern Arizona with shard designs.  The setup and placement of each of the squares allowed him to use different imagery for each square within a section.  The sections are divided up by vertical bands of polished red and a horizontal band of polished mauve.  Check out the very thin lines around the rim of the bowl!  Of course, these very intricately painted lines were inspired by the work of Rondina Huma.  However, Jake gave the bowl his own touch with the hands at the bottom.  The hand designs were cut from paper and then he would blow the black bee-weed through a straw to get the little dots!  The bowl was traditionally fired so there are blushes on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom with his hallmark Flute Player and Koopee.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Jake won numerous awards during his career including “Best of Show” in 2005 at both Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Market.  I was lucky to have been a pottery judge both years at both events, and it was exciting to see an artist create such dynamic work.