This is a large bowl by Wallace Youvella.  He was the husband of noted Hopi-Tewa potter Iris Nampeyo.  Wallace was one of the first three men at Hopi in the mid-1970’s to begin making pottery (the others were Mark Tahbo and Thomas Polacca).  Interestingly, Thomas and Wallace (who were brothers-in-law) both started with traditional Hopi-Tewa designs but met resistance from the women potters, so began making pieces that were either fully polished and etched or carved.  This bowl has a kiva and ladder on one side. The kiva leads up to the rim of the bowl, which is painted with corn, flute player, feathers, and a petroglyph person.  The opposite side has a single human figure as part of the “emergence” story.  Separating them are Hopi “pueblo” style buildings.  each design is carved into the clay and painted with clay slips, and the piece has the appearance of wood.  It is an exceptional piece of his pottery with creative designs and tight painting. This piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Wallace Youvella”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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