Navasie, Eunice “Fawn” – 11″ Wide Jar with Interlocking Hummingbirds (1970s)

WOW!  This is an exceptional water jar by Eunice “Fawn” Navasie.  She was a daughter-in-law of Paqua Naha and a sister-in-law of Joy “Frogwoman” Navasie.  This jar is coil-built, slipped and polished white, and painted with bee-weed and red clay.  While Eunice was creative in her designs, this is one of my favorite pieces I’ve seen.  The shape of the jar is elegant with the low shoulder and elongated neck.  Around the shoulder are four tumbling birds.  Each opposing bird is different and note the use of the circles or lines on the tail feathers.  With each bird is an insect or maybe even lizard, that it is hunting. They are painted in a very minimalist, almost weaving like manner.  It is great use of painting and storytelling!  The red areas of the jar are polished, and it is the early red from the late 1960s to early 1970s.  The jar was traditionally fired and note the “meringue” colored blushes right on the neck!  The inside of the neck is also polished red.  Eunice was known for the great colorations from the firing.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “Fawn.  This was her signature in the 1960s.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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Navasie, Eunice "Fawn" (1920-1992)

Eunice "Fawn" Navasie was a sister of Perry Navasie (the husband of Joy "Frogwoman" Navasie) and a sister-in-law of Pauline Setalla. She was the mother of noted potters Dawn Navasie, Dolly "White Swann" Joe, Fawn "Little Fawn" Navasie, and Gregory Navasie. She was known for her whiteware pottery and the use of traditional designs. She won numerous awards in the 1960s and 1970s at Gallup Ceremonials and Santa Fe Indian Market. Her pottery was featured in the May, 1974 Arizona Highways.