First People Pots
  • Home
  • About the Collection
    • Introduction from the Collection Owner
    • Dedication
    • Some Uses of the Collection & Website
  • Appendices
    • Appendix A: Hopi Social History and the Transition from Polacca to Sikyatki Revival Style Pottery
    • Appendix B: A Tale of Two Pots: Ancient Sikyatki and bowl 1993-04: The Development of Nampeyo’s Style
    • Appendix C: Appreciations of Nampeyo
    • Appendix D: Ranking “Nampeyo” Pots
    • Appendix E: Nampeyo’s signed pottery, a history & theory
    • Appendix F: Nampeyo’s Design Elements
    • Appendix G: Stephen letter to Keam re Ayer collection
  • Works Cited
  • Press
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2025-13  Nampeyo playing with a Polacca pot

2025-13 Nampeyo playing with a Polacca pot

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Eagle Tail Design, Polacca Ware, White-slipped, Nampeyo

The neck is about 1.0-inch high. This rather worn and crudely-painted pot turns out to be a gold mine of information, but learning its story requires an extended investigation and discussion.  As a result of these discussions I can say with high confidence that jar...
2019-05  Polacca jar with eagle-tail design

2019-05 Polacca jar with eagle-tail design

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Eagle Tail Design, Polacca Ware

The iconic Nampeyo pot is a Sikyatki Revival low-shouldered jar with her eagle-tail design. This collection contains such a pot (2005-16) dating from about 1905. So identified is this design with Nampeyo that the pot is recognizable as “by Nampeyo” from...
2017-04 Tray with Polacca-style Polik’Mana interior, Sikyatki Revival exterior

2017-04 Tray with Polacca-style Polik’Mana interior, Sikyatki Revival exterior

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Kachina Design, Polacca Ware, Polik'Mana, White-slipped, Nampeyo

The two rectangular vessels in the collection This “tray” is really a painted tile surrounded by a 1.6-inch high wall. If it were only a tile, it would likely be one of the largest Nampeyo tiles known. One prehistoric example of this tray form is documented. Based on...
2014-06 Large Polacca C food bowl

2014-06 Large Polacca C food bowl

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Polacca Ware, Utility Pots

This is a thick, solid bowl with a rim that incurves about one-fifth of an inch. Without penetrating to the interior, a 1-inch chunk has been knocked off one side, revealing coarse grey/pink clay that forms the body of the vessel. The bowl is covered with a white slip...
2011-07 Polacca “C” Pot with Three Quadrupeds

2011-07 Polacca “C” Pot with Three Quadrupeds

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Folk Art Other Animal Design, Polacca Ware

  3.375” h X 5.25” w Dating “to around 1880 and likely a Keam innovation,” the engaging creatures on this pot represent an early attempt by Hopi (Hopi/Tewa) potters to create a product that would appeal to the tourist trade.”  (Quoted comments from Ed...
2010-03 Vertical Polacca “C” Polychrome Canteen with Flowers and Birds

2010-03 Vertical Polacca “C” Polychrome Canteen with Flowers and Birds

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, Canteens, Folk Art Bird Design, Polacca Ware

Collected at Hopi ca 1879 According to Wade and McChesney, vertical Polacca canteens of this form are derived from the older San Bernardo tradition (1981:569). The Keam collection contains examples of such San Bernardo canteens (1981:73) and similar Polacca B vessels...
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Online catalog developed by Holly Chervnsik as part of Master of Arts in Humanities Thesis at University of Houston - Clear Lake
Email holly@suburbanbuzz.com for questions, comments or corrections to the information herein.
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