Tso, Faye – Jar with Mountain Designs (1980s)

Faye Tso was one of the first Navajo potters to use unconventional imagery in her pottery.  While traditional Navajo pottery has very little decoration, Tso applied images of corn maidens, lizards, and dancers to the surface of the clay.  Her grandson, Jarred Tso, is also an important younger potter who is carrying on this amazing family tradition.  This jar is coil-built and has a traditional “drum” shape.  Around the side of the jar are incised mountain designs.  The jar was traditionally fired and then covered with pinon pitch.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Faye Tso”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Definitely a great piece of Navajo pottery history!

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Tso, Faye (1933-2004)

Faye B. Tso was one of the first Navajo potters to use unconventional imagery in her pottery.  Her father was Leonard Begody.  Traditional Navajo pottery has very little decoration, but Tso applied images of corn maidens, warriors, and dancers onto the surface of the clay. She was a practicing Navajo herbalist, and her husband and son are both medicine men. The family often uses Tso’s pottery in their ceremonies, because "fire, cloud, and earth are all part of the Navajo way". Her grandson, Jared Tso, is also an important younger potter who is carrying on this amazing family tradition.