1999-08 Large Vase with Nampeyo Spider Design

Large jar with “Old Lady” spider design, by Jean Sahme. This distinctive design was painted by Nampeyo, especially during the first decade of the 20th Century (Kramer, 1996:150: plate 10 and p. 186: fig F). For other examples of this design on Nampeyo’s work, see Struever, 2001:102 and 103. In lieu of an “Old Lady” pot with this design, I purchased this pot by great, great granddaughter Jean Sahme. The designs are not perfectly placed on the pot, nevertheless this decoration on an otherwise plain pot is striking. Jean’s sister Nyla has painted a variation of this design, inverting some elements and creating a boulder effect (2006-14).