Shupla, Helen – Large Jar with Rain and Lightning Geometrics (1970s)

6.5"w x 6.25"h

$ 1,075.00

Helen Shupla is certainly most famous for her exceptional melon jars.  However, she is also known for her creative carved vessels. This tall jar and it is fully carved.  There are two sections of design on each half of the jar.  There are large rain, lightning, and cloud patterns.  They are deeply carved into the clay.  There is an interesting use of both negative space and small carved areas within a larger polished section.  The creativity of the carving comes from Kenneth Shupla, Helen’s husband.  He was from Hopi and he carved all of her pottery!  As a result, the carved piece by Helen often combines both Hopi and Santa Clara pueblo aesthetics and designs.  The jar is from the 1970s and it is highly polished and fired a deep black.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Helen Santa Clara Pueblo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.