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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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2024-02  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...

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 inches. The design on this bowl is simple but striking.  It is also ancient and persistent.  The six sets of chevrons on the rim of bowl 2023-13 are unique in this collection, while the...

2023-11  Modern Polik’ Mana tile

2023-11 Modern Polik’ Mana tile

This collection contains about a dozen versions of the Polik’Mana, from a tile (2014-10) and a tray (2017-04) by Nampeyo, to modern tiles (cf 2017-03), canteens, vases, a corn meal bowl, and even an image painted on cloth but posing as a...

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,...

2023-12  Long Hair Katsina tile

2023-12 Long Hair Katsina tile

The fine-line migration design has become a standardize design used by potters at Hopi, and, at first glance, that is what one’s eye sees here.  Randall Sahmie (1950-2008) is best known for his katchia carvings and painting.  He was an...