Monochromatic curvilinear elements encircle the pot, with one area incorporating three dots and a triangle. Ruth is the daughter of Rachael Namingha Nampeyo (1903–1985) (2012-20) and the sister of Priscilla (see 1991-05, 1993-03, and 2003-03), Lillian (see 2002-01), Eleanor Lucas (see 2009-23), and Dextra (see 1998-03), but has never made much pottery. Her daughter, Darlene Vigil (see 1988-02, 1989-02) learned pottery from her aunt Dextra.
This is the only pot by Ruth I have seen: not all members of the Nampeyo family are potters. In this Ruth is like her niece, Janelle Lucas (2019-22).
Rick Dillingham, in his book Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery, quotes Ruth extensively:
“First of all I do some pottery but all these years I was working for the federal government —twenty-seven years— and I didn’t get back into it [pottery]. My other sisters got instruction from my mom, but I was always at work….I never had time…
I did do a little [pottery] work when I worked [for the government]. I never did the painting. I helped my mom mold, and she would paint them….(1994:52).”
