Pavatea, Garnet – Red Courrugated Water Jar (1970’s)

6"w x 7.5"h

$ 800.00

Garnet Pavatea is one of the great names in Hopi-Tewa pottery.  She created traditional Hopi pottery but was most famous for her corrugated pieces.  This water jar is a classic example of her corrugated style.  The jar has triangular corrugation around the shoulder and the neck.  The upper neck and base are fully polished.  There’s a great story about how she created the triangular style of corrugation on her pottery.  She used a key style can opener with the triangular end, which she would impress into the clay to create the design. The idea of the corrugation on the surface comes from pre-historic pottery which was corrugated or created leaving the coils exposed.  One explanation of why they were made this was is that they heated up faster when used for cooking. This bowl was made from the red Hopi clay, which gives it a distinctive color.  It is signed on the bottom “Garnet Pavatea” and it is in very good condition.