Navasie, Joy “Frogwoman” – Water Jar with Hopi Birds (1980’s)

6.75"w x 7.75"h

$ 1,500.00

This water jar by Joy “Frog Woman” Navasie is a distinctive shape.  It is a more classic water jar shape with the round shoulder, elongated neck and turned out rim. The jar is fully polished on the inside and outside.  It is slipped with the white clay and then painted with natural clay slips (the red is a deeper red clay she began to use in the 1980’s) and bee-weed (black).   It’s nice to see this period of her work painted with such precision to the lines!  The design is interesting, as there are two consecutive panels with birds.  The other two panels are painted with a bird wing design and a series of rain and cloud motifs.  The neck of the jar is also painted with a band of cloud and rain designs.  Interestingly, the delineation of the panels on the neck are in the center of the panels below!  Joy was always masterful with both the precision of her painting but also the geometry of her designs and the form.  The jar was traditionally fired so there are some very slight variations in the coloration but primarily the white has the classic pearlescent depth of color.  The jar is signed on the bottom with her Frog Hallmark.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.