Youvella, Wallace – Seedpot with Sunface

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-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 which were either fully polished and etched, or carved.  This piece is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.