2024-01 Carved and painted half-kaolin-slipped vase

Kachina Design, White-Slip Ware

Hopi pottery is traditionally a women’s craft, so when men began making pottery in the mid-1970’s many of their women folk were not pleased.  Katchina carving is a traditional male craft, however, and to placate the women some male artists from First Mesa developed a...

2020-16 Transitional jar with “pure abstraction” designs

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, White-Slip Ware

The eccentricity of this pot makes the following analysis both complicated and detailed.  As a guide, this catalog entry has the following eight sections: I.     Introduction II.     Form III.   “Pure Abstraction,” an unusual design motif IV.    Design V....

2020-11 Faded Um-tok-ina serpent on imperfectly-slipped bowl

White-Slip Ware

Rachael Sahmie 2021-21 This is a plain bowl with framing lines and a single, washed-out design.  Yet the design is so powerful and unusual that, even in its imperfect state, it is an important example in Nampeyo’s oeuvre. This collection now has 63 pots that...

2016-03 Slipped ladle with polychrome design

White-Slip Ware

Although this ladle was made for the tourist market, its shape is the same as those traditionally made for home use (2008-15a). The bowl and handle are evenly-formed but thick, giving the ladle substantial heft. The shape is graceful and when held in the hands with...

2016-01 Red-rimmed bowl with spout

White-Slip Ware

Annie Healing (Nampeyo) was probably in her late 40’s or early 50’s when she made this bowl. Signed with her name, it was clearly made to sell to tourists. However its utilitarian form, white slip and red lip reflect a Polacca polychrome tradition that was typical of...

2015-12 Lobed white-slipped jar with feather motifs

1880s to 1900 Transition Ware, White-Slip Ware

The form of this jar is unusual; lobed pots are not generally made at Hopi. The painting features motifs that are typical of Nampeyo’s work. A notation on the bottom of the jar indicates that it was purchased in 1917.  Because Nampeyo had substantial visual impairment...