Naha-Nampeyo, Cheryl – Bowl with Ants and Rain Clouds

2\"w x 1.5\"h

$ 75.00

 

Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee.  She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”.  She says of these:

The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother.  Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house.  They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees.  Once a hive was found, they would use honey.  The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet.  The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home.  That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.

This bowl is made from while clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip.  There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants.  Around the rim of the bowl are rain designs.  The area behind the ants has a mottled appearance from the use of the black bee-weed.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.