Youvella, Wallace – Small Red Jar with Feather Designs (1970s)

1"w x 1.5"h

$ 175.00

This is an intricately etched red jar by Wallace Youvella.  He was the husband of noted Hopi-Tewa potter Iris Nampeyo  It is fully polished red and the design is incised into the clay.  The jar has etched feathers around the top of the shoulder.  Around the sides are panels of geometric designs.  This piece was made in the 1970s.  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) 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 piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Wallace Youvella”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.