Elizabeth White created distinctive pottery using the various colors of Hopi clay. 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 classic pieces with two ears of corn.  The coloration of the clay is the distinctive and much sought after “mauve”.  The entire piece is stone polished to a high shine except for the two ears of corn which are unpolished matte.  The jar is an unusual shape for her work with a round body and a short neck.  However, the roundness of the body stands out to give the ears of corn more depth. This jar signed on the bottom in the clay, “Polingaysi” and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  The last photo is one of this jar next to piece by her nephew, Al Qoyawayma.

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 important addition to any collection!