SPECIAL OFFER: Small Polychrome Canteen by Fannie Nampeyo [R]

Special Offer: The owner has agreed to drop the price of this Fannie Nampeyo canteen by 25% from the original price of $1175 to a new price of $880.

Small canteens were made for the men to take to the fields with them as a source of drinking water. Equipped with a corncob stopper and filled with cold water, a canteen would keep the water cold through evaporation. The handles, fashioned in a manner to permit a woven sash to be secured through them facilitated hanging the canteen from one’s shoulder or hanging it from a tree limb.

This canteen is much too small for the above purpose. Pieces such as this were made for sale to tourists and collectors. They were made with the same care and attention devoted to larger more significant pottery pieces.

Fannie Nampeyo was an outstanding potter. She was one of the daughters of Nampeyo of Hano, and she had a long and productive life. She made many large exquisite vessels and, on occasion, seemed to like to make small pieces such as cowboy hats, salt and pepper sets, canteens, etc. These must have been a relief for her and more relaxing than making large pieces. Often, potters made small pieces to use leftover prepared clay after finishing larger pieces.

This small canteen is signed Fannie Nampeyo on verso. It is in very good condition.