1992-03 Wide-Mouth Jar with Fine-Line Migration Motif

Hopi pot, fine-line migration design by Rayvin Nampeyo (born 1961). Rayvin is brother of James G. Nampeyo (1992-08) and they are the sons of Leah Nampeyo (1991-04), one of Fannie’s seven children. Their sister is Melda Garcia (2009-02). When Leah died in 1974, James was 16 years old, Melda 15 and Rayvin was 13. (Information from Rayvin.) Fannie raised the three siblings. Although Hopi potters are traditionally women, at least one of Fannie’s sons (Thomas) is a potter and Fannie taught her grandsons to pot. For a picture of and comments by Rayvin, see Dillingham (1994:23). According to Bruce McGee, who ran the trading post at Keam’s Canyon for many years, this pot, with its unusually wide mouth, low shape and characteristic fine-line design is very similar to pots made by Fannie in the 1940s. This pot is apparently several years old and the black paint was powdering off in spots. Bruce McGee showed me how to apply Vaseline to the pot, wait overnight, and then gently wipe the excess off. This process helps absorb the paint into the clay and provides a protective surface.