Early Hopi-tewa Pottery Jar - Nampeyo / Pueblo Native American/ Southwest Indian For Sale

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Attributed to Nampeyo

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Small but very early painted Native American Hopi jar, unsigned but attributed to
famous Hopi - Tewa potter, Iris Nampeyo (ca. 1860 - 1942).

The attribution is based on similarities in design, depiction, and brush work to known examples in museums and collections.

Hand-coiled construction of buff clay, burnished finish and painted in rust-red and black (very dark brown).

No signature or markings. Circa 1910. SIZE:

Height - 4.25" / Diameter - 3" Finely painted Hopi - Tewa jar, attributed to the early master potter Nampeyo (ca. 1860 - 1942).

This piece is painted in the Sikyatki Revival style, with an abstracted bird motif. It probably dates to about 1910 and was no doubt made for sale.

The abstracted design is quite attractive and dynamic with different images on every side of the piece, all connected by image context. It can be viewed from any side and it looks great (see photos). The top rim is uneven, as made.

An image search on Goggle, for 'Nampeyo', will show many other pieces to compare this example to.

This piece is in good condition with no hairlines or repairs. There is a small (1/8") shallow chip to the rim and a small (1/16") shallow 'ding' to the center of the largest red area on the side. The painted surface shows some slight wear overall, but not bad. The bottom shows light wear. Iris Nampeyo
(ca. 1860 - 1942)

Hopi - Tewa potter who lived on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. She received the English name Iris as an infant, but was better known by her Tewa name, Num-pa-yu, meaning "snake that does not bite".

Nampeyo was born at Hano Pueblo, which is primarily made up of descendants of the Tewa tribe who fled west to Hopi lands after the Pueblo Rebellion of 1680. Her mother, Ootca-ka-o was Tewa; her father Qots-vema, from nearby Walpi Pueblo, was Hopi.

Hopi people make ceramics painted with beautiful designs, and Nampeyo was eventually considered one of the finest Hopi potters. Nampeyo learned pottery making through the efforts of her paternal grandmother. In the 1870s, she made a steady income by selling her work at a local trading post operated by Thomas Keam. She became increasingly interested in ancient pottery form and design, recognizing them as superior to Hopi pottery produced at the time. Her second husband, Lesou (or Lesso) was employed by the archaeologist J. Walter Fewkes at the excavation of the prehistoric ruin of Sikyatki in the 1890s. Lesou helped Nampeyo find potsherds showing the old forms and Fewkes produced detailed illustrations of reconstructed pots.

Nampeyo developed her own style based on the traditional designs. Her work was purchased for the Smithsonian Institution and by collectors worldwide. In 1904 and 1907, she produced and sold pottery at the Grand Canyon lodge owned by the Fred Harvey Company. She and her husband traveled to Chicago in 1898 and 1910 to display her work.

Nampeyo began to lose her sight in 1925, but continued to form and shape pots by touch. These later pots were painted by members of her family, including her four daughters, who also became well-known potters. She worked with clay until her death in 1942. PLEASE NOTE :

The low opening offer, with , is not meant to reflect upon the actual monetary value of the piece. My sales are structured this way to encourage offerding and to allow the final sale price to be determined by the buyers. ~ please click on image for high definition photos ~

This item will be a museum quality addition to any collection of Native American pottery and will display beautifully in any Mid Century Modern, Southwest, Santa Fe - Taos Style, New Mexico - Spanish Colonial, or Arts and Crafts decor.

This object comes from a smoke-free, pet-free environment and it will be carefully packed and shipped for quick and safe arrival to its new owner.

Please look carefully at all the photographs to view the details and condition of the piece. Please e-mail with any questions ... we always respond quickly!

Shipped from Brisbane, California, USA.
International shipping by USPS.

Items shipped to a location in California are subject to CA State sales tax.All of our pieces are guaranteed authentic, as described, and to your satisfaction, with a full money-back guarantee, including return shipping, if returned promptly and in good condition.

This item has been shown 372 times. Early Hopi-tewa Pottery Jar - Nampeyo / Pueblo Native American/ Southwest Indian: $355