This is an early piece by Sylvia Naha.  She was a daughter of Helen “Featherwoman” Naha.  This jar was inspired by the work of her mother and it is the classic “Awatovi Star” pattern.  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 1930s, the whiteware pottery was rediscovered.  It was the imagery from this work which inspired much of Helen’s early pottery, as opposed the more classic Sikyatki inspired pottery of Nampeyo of Hano.  This jar has the “Awatovi Star” pattern painted on the top and the bottom.  The jar is a smaller piece with this classic design fully painted.  It is wide and just a slight rise to the neck.  Around the shoulder is her “eternity band” design. The jar has been traditionally fired and there is some variation to the color from the firing, which certainly adds to the beauty of the piece.  The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom with her hallmark feather and an “S”, which was Sylvia’s signature.