Rachel Namingha Nampeyo was a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a daughter of Annie Healing. She was the mother of noted potters Priscilla Nampeyo, Dextra Quotskuyva, Eleanor Lucas, Emerson Namingha, and Ruth Namingha. She was known for her use of traditional designs on her pottery and continuing the pottery legacy of her grandmother.  This wide bowl is a striking piece with a classic shape and the migration pattern as the design.  Note the fine lines of the migration pattern.  There are 16 bird wings that make up the design. It is signed on the bottom, “Rachel Nampeyo” with her attached label, which was typical of her work in the 1960s.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, but some fugitive black and a small rim chip repair.

Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo said of  the migration pattern:

“This is the one design that was really stressed for us to use, the migration pattern. Nothing but lines, representing the migration of all the people to all the places, including down below and up above. It has seven points at the top and bottom. All the x’s represent life from the bottom and top, telling you the universe is one. The thin lines, I just wanted to paint them real fast and real close to try and include everyone.”  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, Spoken Through Clay