Bobby Silas is 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. While much of his work has been using lignite coal for firing, this jar was fired with sheep manure. The result is a deeper, almost orange coloration which is more closely associated with traditional Hopi pottery.  This jar has a wide shoulder and a thin neck.  The design is intricately painted with a four directional feather bundle.  Note the use of various clay colorations.  The painting on his pottery is interesting as if you look closely it has a more “painterly” appearance as he is using the older red clay seen on Hopi-Tewa pottery before the 1930’s.  The jar is signed on the bottom with a coyote track (Coyote Clan) and his name.