Namoki, Lawrence – “Supreme Beings” Seedpot (1980s)
$ 800.00
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, “Supreme Beings”. The title refers to the Sun and Aholi katsinas that are depicted in the design. They are carved at various layers. The sun lower half has the sun rising over setting moon with the prayer feathers, clans, and buildings at the side. The back is polished dark brown with etched petroglyph figures. The piece highlighted with additional clay slips for coloration. The seedpot is signed on the bottom, “Lawrence Namoki”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
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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. The top has a carved sun design. On the sides area a Sun, Crow Mother Katsina, Longhair Katsina, Longhair Mana Katsina, and Hano Mana. Lawrence carved them at various levels and all the designs are highlighted with additional clay slips for coloration. The bottom is fully polished 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.