Namoki, Lawrence – “Bless the Guardian” Large Seedpot with Longhair Mana and Warrior Maiden Katsinas (1987)

Lawrence Namoki was known for the variety of styles of his pottery. While he began with deeply carved pottery, he ended his career by creating delicately painted vessels.  This piece is a large and complicated seedpot.  It was made in 1987, and it a period of his work which is among the most complicated in design. On one side is a Warrior Maiden katsina carved in relief.  Note the amazing detail in the adobe bricks of the pueblo buildings behind her!  On each side is a Longhair Mana katsina.  The opposite side has a large sun katinsa carved into the clay.  Look closer and you will see that the rays of the sun are ears of corn.  The bottom is also carved with a feather pattern.  There are so many small details on this piece that make it exceptional.  Even the white area behind the three katsinas is etched in a linear manner to create another design.  The top has an etched flute player.  All the clay colors are used to create a wood-like appearance.  The piece is signed on the bottom, “Lawrence Namoki”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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Namoki, Lawrence (1949-2020)

Lawrence Namoki is from Walpi, the oldest village on First Mesa at Hopi. He began his art career carving miniature katchina in wood. In the 1980's he began making pottery which was deeply carved and the imagery was mostly focused on Katsina figures. The surfaces were slipped and painted to give the appearance of wood. Today, his work has taken a new turn with imagery based on Hopi myths and history. He says of his pottery, "The type of artwork I do cannot be taught in any educational institute. Only a true Hopi can do what I do and he must understand the Hopi culture and the life of a Hopi to do artwork of this type. All my artwork on pottery is based on Hopi Culture and Myths.” Lawrence has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market. His pottery can also be found in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Heard Museum.