$ 1,600.00
This is an exceptional early jar by Thomas Polacca. He was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano. He is considered among the first men to begin making pottery at Hopi in the 1970s. Interestingly, when the men initially did use traditional Sikyatki designs it was suggested by women potters that they take other directions in their pottery. This is one of the early pieces that were both made with native clay but also painted with bee-weed (black) and a polished red clay slip. The jar is creative in shape, design, and size. The jar has a high shoulder and a short neck. The entire surface is fully polished. There are eight Longhair katsinas encircling the top of the shoulder. What is very unusual is the avanyu encircling the side of the jar! It is striking and colorful! The jar was traditionally fired to create slight blushes on the surface. It is signed, “Nampeyo Thomas Polacca”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Thomas Polacca was a son of noted potter Fannie Nampeyo and a grandson of Nampeyo of Hano. Along with Wallace Youvella (the husband of his sister Iris), Thomas was one of the first Hopi men to be being both making and designing pottery in the 1970s. Wallace and Thomas told the story that they first tried making pottery with "traditional" designs but there was resistance from the women so they began to create a new style of Hopi pottery, with carved designs, much in the same manner as Hopi Katsinas. Thomas received wide acclaim for his pottery over the years and his work is in numerous museums such as the Heard, the Denver Art Museum and others.
Artist Media Series
Contemporary
Historic
