Youvella, Wallace – Seedpot with Sunface (1990s)

1.5"w x 1.5"h

$ 175.00

This is an intricate miniature by Wallace Youvella, the husband of Iris Nampeyo  It is fully polished with a blue clay slip.  It is etched with a sunface as the central design.  The lighter blue areas are where he etched away from the polished surface but not deep enough for the tan.  Wallace was one of the first three men at Hopi in the mid-1970s to begin making pottery (the others were Mark Tahbo and Thomas Polacca).  Interestingly, Thomas and Wallace (who were brothers-in-law) started with traditional Hopi-Tewa designs but met resistance from the women potters, so they began making pieces that were either fully polished and etched or carved.  This piece is signed on the bottom, “Wallace Youvella”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.