Elizabeth White was an aunt of noted potter Al Qoyawayma and taught him to make pottery.  She originated the use of the ear of corn as a design in repousse (pushed out from the inside) on her pottery. Her pottery is all signed in the clay with her Hopi name Polingaysi, which means, “butterfly sitting among the flowers in the breeze”.  This jar is one of her corrugated pieces.  I asked Al Qoyawayma why she created the corrugated surfaces and his response was,

“I think Elizabeth liked experimenting.  She used at least three kinds of textured surfaces.  The “corrugated” simulation, the “basket bowl” and of course the “simulated corn” texture.  In the basket bowl she would press the clay into the basket to get the texture of the basket and then finish with a smooth rim.”

This jar is “corrugated”, meaning that she would not smooth down the coils but would impress them with her finger or a tool to create the layered surface. The result is certainly one that almost does have a basket appearance!  This jar is also made from the traditional Hopi red clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Interestingly, Polingaysi was a school teacher and taught at Hopi and  Navajo schools for almost 40 years.  On retirement from teaching, she became an artist, a poet, and a philosopher.  Her career as a potter was begun late in life, after her retirement, so there is very little of her work available. It is a classic of her work and an important addition to any collection! It is definitely a charming piece of her pottery!