Though unsigned, this figure is apparently by Lowell Cheresposy, Hisi’s son and grandson of Dextra: an impressive lineage.
The figure is carved from a solid chunk of clay. The only painting is the black hair. Only the corn stalk on the left side of the figure is polished. The right side is composed of five rows of corn kernels, with about 20 kernels in each row. These are carefully, though not symmetrically carved into the clay body. The figure has a quiet, evocative presence. Hopi/Tewa conceive of corn as female and fertile, giving life-sustaining nourishment to people. This figure embodies that belief.
Although some Hopi/Tewa men of his generation are potters, this is the only clay product that I have seen by Lowell. (Later I found a pot by “Lowell C.” that was sold at auction by Allard Auctions on 8/13/05; listing on file.)
Pot 2010-31 is one of a group of pots that were part of a 2,400-item Southwest pueblo pottery collection that was assembled by Rutt Bridges of Denver, CO over a period of about 14 years. His sister, Kathleen Hoff, is helping her brother sell the collection. In 2009, Kat sent me two CDs with information about Hopi pots in the collection. During 2010, over a period of months Kay sent me additional photographs of about 200 Hopi and Hopi/Tewa pots from the collection.
