Bobby Silas is an exceptional potter creating revival Siktayki pottery using similar clay and firing techniques to those pieces created between 1100 and 1600.  Are you familiar with Sikyatki? In Hopi Sikyátki, means “Yellow House” and it is known for its distinctive style of pottery.  The vessels were large and painted with a wide variety of designs. It was this pottery which was excavated beginning in 1895 which inspired Nampeyo of Hano to create her own stylized versions.  Bobby has been making his own coil built pieces from clay local to Hopi and painted with natural clay slips and bee-weed/mustard plant for the black.  Interestingly, he has taken the time to seek out the local lignite coal which the Siktayki potters used to fire their potter.  It burn hot and gives the pieces a distinctive coloration and it is also a very high firing, which makes them very hard.  In terms of designs, Bobby says that he seeks out both older pieces and looks at older designs for inspiration.

This jar is coil built and there are two parrot heads extending out from the sides.  The parrot has long been an important part of Hopi culture (Parrot Clan, parrot feathers).  Here sides of the jar are painted with large parrot wings and feathers. However, note the band around the shoulder with the small squares, which are classic Sikyatki designs which has used to connect the two birds.  The jar itself has a yellowish/white coloration from the firing and there are blushes across the surface.  Because of the use of lignite coal, the blushes are different in coloration from the classic manure firings.  If you are like me, I have to stop and adjust by view to understand the variation in firing techniques and how they impact the clay.  The jar is signed on the bottom with a coyote track (Coyote Clan) and his name.  It’s exciting to see an artist delve into the past for inspiration and take the time to seek out the historic methods of firing.  Bobby has recently won awards at the Museum of Northern Arizona for his pottery and we look forward to seeing how his pottery evolves over time!