Cody, Wyoming Collection Polychrome Sikyatki Revival Seed Jar [SOLD]

Lena Chio was a granddaughter of Nampeyo & Lesou. She was the daughter of their oldest son, Qoo -ma-lets-tewa (Mad Bear), who died in the year 1918 as a result of the flu. She married her second husband, Charlie Chio, in 1928. (Personal conversation with Maurice M. Bloom, Jr).

In another reference, she is listed as Lena Charlie, and the sister to Irene Shupla and Hazel Shupla, and the mother of Sunbean David, which would make her the grandmother of Neil David, the well-known Hopi-Tewa painter and katsina doll carver. (Schaaf)

In still another reference, she is said to be the niece of Nampeyo. When Nampeyo’s vision was deteriorating, and she was unable to paint her pottery anymore, she would often take pieces to Lena for her to paint, if Annie or Fannie was unavailable to help their mom. (Kramer)

I think it is safe to say she was related to Nampeyo, but the relationship is not definitively defined. I have been unable to find her exact dates of birth and death, but she is recorded, by the Museum of Northern Arizona, as having been an active potter from 1933 to 1961.

Lena signed her pottery with a corn hallmark, the meaning of which was blue corn.

This large seed jar certainly ties her heritage to the Nampeyo family. It is a beautiful rendition of the Sikyatki Revival pottery so firmly tied to Nampeyo and her family. The squared-off top surrounding the opening, and the split-tail design are Nampeyo-like in their rendition.

The sparseness of design is a trademark of Lena. If this were a Nampeyo piece, all the open spaces in the design would be filled with fine lines, cross hachuring or stippling.

The jar is in excellent condition, with the normal amount of scratches to be expected in a piece of this age. It is signed with her corn hallmark.

References: 
1. Recommended Reading: Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies, (click here to view details of book) by Gregory Schaaf. (Available from Adobe Gallery)

2. Recommended Reading: Nampeyo and Her Pottery, (click here to view details of book) by Barbara Kramer. (Available from Adobe Gallery)