Naha, Burel – Large Seedpot with Awatovi Star Design (2000s)

Burel Naha is the son of Helen “Featherwoman” Naha and a brother of Rainy Naha and Sylvia Naha.  While he no longer makes much pottery, he was well known for his intricately painted pieces and especially the use of the spider design.  This seedpot has a stylized version of the Awatovi Star design.  The “Awatovi Star” pattern was revived by her mother, Helen “Featherwoman” Naha.  Awatovi is one of the ruins near Hopi where a white slipped style of pottery was made.  It is a fascinating place as it was where Coronado made contact with the Hopi in 1540.  During the excavations in the 1930’s the whiteware pottery was rediscovered.  It was the imagery from his work which inspired much of Helen’s early pottery, as opposed to the more classic Sikyatki inspired pottery of Nampeyo of Hano.  Burel’s design has the star on the top and the bottom.  The central design is the “eternity band” which was also seen on Helen’s pottery.  The bottom half has a swirling cloud and the top has a plant design.  The piece is tightly painted and traditionally fired.  It is painted using bee-weed (black) on a white kaolin clay surface.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and a Long Hair katsina, which is his hallmark.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.