Fannie L. Polacca is a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and a granddaughter of Fannie Nampeyo. Her father was Tom Polacca and she is a sister of Gary Nampeyo, Carla Claw, Delmar Polacca, and Elvira Naha.  This jar has a round shoulder and a sloping neck.  It is painted with bee-weed and red clay slip. It has a classic spider design on both sides.  This is a design that is seen on the pottery of Nampeyo of Hano.  The jar is signed, “Fannie L. Nampeyo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Do you know the importance and the story of the Spider, or Spider-Woman, in Hopi culture?

“In Hopi, Spider-Woman assumes the role of the creator of all living things, including humans.  She is also called “Spider Grandmother” (Hopi Kokyangwuti), or “Gogyeng Sowuhti”.  She can take the shape of an old, or timeless woman or the shape of a common spider in many Hopi stories. When she is in her spider shape, she lives underground in a hole that is like a Kiva. When she is called upon, she will help people in many ways, such as giving advice or providing medicinal cures. “Spider Grandmother” is seen as a leader, a wise individual who represents good things.