2012-15 Navajo Large Bear Bank

Effigy

Bill Beaver fell in love with Navajo pottery when working at Chaco Canyon in the 1940s and Shonto Trading post in the 1950s. In 1960, he bought Sacred Mountain Trading Post 20 miles north of Flagstaff on Route 89. There, he began to promote Navajo pottery to the...

2012-05 Polychromatic Prayer Meal Bowl with Palhik Mana Raised Face, Crenellated Kopatsoki

Effigy, Kachina Design, Polik'Mana, Utility Pots

The form of this pot is unusual. The rim is carefully uneven with the rear rim rising about 0.5” above the side rims and incorporating a hole large enough to hang the pot from a nail in the wall. The crenellated front of the pot rises 2.125” above the side rims and...

2012-03 Polacca Jar with Raised Face

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Effigy

  Except for the red rim typical of Polacca “C” and “D” ware, the jar is monochromatic; the white slip with small crackles is also characteristic of such ware. Either the pot has been lightly varnished or there is a noticeable patina on the pot: It’s hard to...

2010-31 Corn Maiden

Effigy

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...

2010-16 Small bowl with Corn Effigy

Effigy

The small bowl is somewhat thick but has even walls and a pleasing, energized linear/curvilinear design. The corn effigy is particularly graceful with the red-painted cob flanked by two leaves. One leaf reaches up to shelter the cob, the other folds downward and...

2009-12 Elegant Bird Effigy Bowl – Polychromatic Design

Effigy, Folk Art Bird Design

Dianna’s brother, Mark Tahbo, taught her pottery; both began their careers by producing many versions of their great grandmother’s Sikyatki butterfly/mesa designs (for Mark, see 1995-01 and 1997-08; for Dianna, see 1992-06). Mark once told me he got “real sick” of...