Namoki, Lawrence – “Hopi – 2013” Jar with Katsina Figures and Stars (2013)
$ 875.00
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 entitled “Hopi-2013”. It is part of a series he made around 2012 about traditional Hopi stories. The jar is divided into four scenes. One has a One Horn Katsina creating the universe. Then there is a Masau Katsina with a kiva ladder. The Maasu katsina is known for handing out “sacred knowledge”. It has been said, “The lives of traditional Hopi people are the way of Maasawu, a way of humility and simplicity, of forging a sacred bond between themselves and the land that sustains them. Maasau’s way is embodied in corn. Massau told them that the source of true happiness is to live in peace and harmony with nature, animals, and other people”. The next scene has a Masau katsina with hummingbirds representing the four directions. Finally, the last scene has a man with fire surrounded by dragonflies and a hand. It is a combination of painted, incised and carved designs. It is a detailed and fascinating piece of clay art. The neck is the natural color of the clay and has the appearance of wood. The jar is signed on the bottom, “Lawrence Namoki”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
Out of stock
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 entitled “Hopi-2013”. It is part of a series he made around 2012 about traditional Hopi stories. The jar is divided into four scenes. One has a One Horn Katsina creating the universe. Then there is a Masau Katsina with a kiva ladder. The Maasu katsina is known for handing out “sacred knowledge”. It has been said, “The lives of traditional Hopi people are the way of Maasawu, a way of humility and simplicity, of forging a sacred bond between themselves and the land that sustains them. Maasau’s way is embodied in corn. Massau told them that the source of true happiness is to live in peace and harmony with nature, animals, and other people”. The next scene has a Masau katsina with hummingbirds representing the four directions. Finally, the last scene has a man with fire surrounded by dragonflies and a hand. It is a combination of painted, incised and carved designs. It is a detailed and fascinating piece of clay art. The neck is the natural color of the clay and has the appearance of wood. The jar 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.