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First People Pots

an online catalog of 500+ pieces of Native American artwork owned by a private collector, described by Cowboys & Indians Magazine as “a valuable resource for collectors, galleries, and scholars.”

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2024-05  Canteen bank

2024-05 Canteen bank

This collection contains 5 other pots by Nellie, who has a reputation of being an indifferent potter and painter.  Occasionally one finds a superior example of her work (cf 2010-04) and pot 2024-05,...

2024-04  Corn vase

2024-04 Corn vase

Corn is at the core of Hopi life and no pot in the collection makes this statement more directly than this vase.  A few pots in this collection depict painted images of corn (1999-10, 2010-08 and 2012-07) and other...

2024-02  Bi-lobed early 20th century canteen

2024-02 Bi-lobed early 20th century canteen

One lobe has a maximum diameter of 2.6875-inches. The second lobe has a maximum diameter of 3.0-inches, a third larger. There is a 0.875-inch gap between the two lobes. The bimodal shape of this canteen is unique and...

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

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

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,...

2023-13  Early career Tawa bowl by Jean Sahme

2023-13 Early career Tawa bowl by Jean Sahme

The opening ranges from 8.5” to 9.1875" The design on this bowl is simple but striking.  Of the close to 600 pots in this collection, only one other caries the image of Tawa, the Creator (2017-07) .  The six sets of chevrons on...