2009-23 Small Frog Canteen With Strap

Canteens, Folk Art Other Animal Design

Object ID:
2009-23

Artist:
Eleanor Lucas

Dimensions:
2.5” h X 2.5” w

A frog is an appropriate decoration for a canteen since both are associated with water.

Rachel Namingha had 5 daughters and a son. Of the five daughters, three (Dextra Quotskuyva, Lillian Gonzales and Priscilla Namingha) became productive potters and used the craft to support their families. The remaining two daughters (Ruth James Namingha and Eleanor Lucas) developed other interests but made very little pottery. (For pots in the collection by all of Priscilla’s daughters and prior generations, see the Artist List.)

Eleanor Lucas, Charles King and Dextra Quotskuyva (King Galleries)

When I purchased this small canteen, this was only the third Eleanor Lucas pot I had seen. One was part of a gallery show in the early 1980’s (Adobe Gallery, 1983:13, #52). A second canteen-shaped bowl was sold by Desert West Auctions on 3/10/07 (photograph on file). Since then I have added several other pots by Eleanor Lucas pots to the collection.  (See “Artist List.”)

Purchase History:
Purchased on 11/3/09, directly from Kathleen Hoff of Greenwood Village, CO. Her brother, Rutt Bridges of Denver, assembled a collection of over 2,400 pieces of pueblo pottery over the last 14 years and she is helping him sell the collection. Kat kindly sent me two CDs of the Hopi pots in the collection. Earlier I had purchased two pots from her (2009-13 and 2009-16); pots 2009-20 through 2009-23 were purchased as a group. Rutt purchased this little canteen from Martha Struever on 7/23/02. [Original Struever receipt on file.]