This is an extraordinary box by Al Qoyawayma.  He continues to take the concept of the lidded “box” to a new level of difficulty.  The shape is distinctive with the three flat sides and the flat lid.  The three sides allow him space to create his multi-layer carved designs.  On one side there are swirling Hopi birds, a star, and a dragonfly.  The opposite side has a bird in tan with cloud designs.  The top has clouds and plant designs.  The box is carved and stone polished with red and orange clay slips.  The tan is the natural color of the clay and there are blue accents.  The “back” of the box is Al’s most recognizable style of the “cliff dwelling”.  There are areas, where he has pushed the clay into the side to create various levels.  There are various shapes of doors with the keyhole, square the even ones with the fallen beams!  Did you know that after he details all the small bricks into the clay, they are then slipped for additional color?  There are two squares with star designs.  The lid rests on an interior ledge so it fits perfectly. The top of the lid has two carved comets and stars. The edge and finial are polished deep red, while there are orangish-red polished areas and brown slipped incised sections. Just thinking about the amount of time to carve so many levels into the clay, then polish them in various colors, and finally create the cliff dwelling section is why this piece is so exceptional.  It is creative in form and design and certainly, a style that is easily identified as unique to Al Qoywayama. 

Al said of this piece:

“My Hopi heritage and clay allow me to form many diverse inspiring shapes. In turn, the shapes help inspire appropriate polychrome images based on our deep ancient pre-history.  So much history. Very exciting!   The triangular curves in this piece allowed me to form a three-sided piece (four sides with lid and handle) often referred to as “The Box”, a nickname often used as a reference….I guess as in a jewelry box. There are no flat surfaces in this piece reflecting our beautiful curved weathered sandstone canyons. I used also carved curved designs to complement the shape. A frontal view of the Box reminds one of the prow of a ship making waves. The rear panel encompasses a newer personal architectural style representing our early homes replicating the beautiful sandstone construction, with rich shadow surfaces. Overall the natural Hopi clays provide the base for the stone polished polychrome surfaces.”

The box is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Al Qoyawayma”.  It is a new piece from 2024.