Polacca, Delmar – 11″ Wide Jar with Crow Mother Katsinas (1999)

Delmar Polacca (b.1959) is a son of Thomas Polacca. He learned to make pottery from his father around 1993 and continues in a similar style with carved designs.  He introduced the “marbling” of the clay, using two different colors of Hopi clay. This large bowl is coil-built and made from two different Hopi clays to create the “marbling'” coloration.  The piece has a carved Hano Katsina and Hano Mana Katsina on the top.  Next to them is a turtle and there are carved clouds, sun, rain, corn, and other designs across the surface.  It is a very complex piece with designs at various levels.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Delmar Polacca”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

“The Ahola is a Hopi Chief Katsina and is considered an elder and a very wise chief. The Ahola appears at the Bean Dance (Powamuya) ceremony to open the Katsina ceremonial season. The Ahola brings prayers for a long and healthy life. He and Ahola Mana go from house to house, making their appearance. On the outside walls of each home, the Ahola draws four horizontal marks with corn meal. The women inside the house come out and sprinkle the Ahola with cornmeal and, at the same time, take some corn seeds from the Ahola Mana’s basket. The two leave and go to the kiva entrance and face one another. He holds his staff out for support and strength and bends his right knee and continues kneeling and standing in rhythmic motion. He calls out to the kiva chief, and the two discuss the arrival of the Katsinam for the year.”