Black-on-red Maricopa - Peeposh Wedding Vessel [SOLD]

The Maricopa Reservation is located on the Salt River and Gila River regions just outside Phoenix, Arizona. There are very few Maricopa Indians remaining, and almost no potters among them. A couple of the well-known names from the past are Ida Redbird and Mable Sunn. The original name of the tribe, before the Spanish named them Maricopa, was Peeposh, a name which they are re-adopting.

In the 1930s, Maricopa potters were realizing only an American nickel (5¢) for well-made pottery.  When this came to the attention of Elizabeth Hart, a United States Indian Service Home Extension Agent in Arizona, she decided to improve the situation.  She encouraged the potters to improve their pottery and encouraged Arizona and New Mexico Museums to assist in sales.  Success followed until the World War II economy put a stop to it.  After the War, there were fewer potters but the work of the remaining ones continued to be of high quality.

This wedding vase appears to be from an earlier period—perhaps before World War II.  It does not bear the name of a potter.  It has a very traditional Maricopa black-line design with the addition of a Christian Cross on both front and back.  The cross could perhaps help identify the potter, or the family, who used such a design providing there is a documented example in a museum collection.  For now, the potter remains unknown.

Condition: original condition

Reference and Recommended Reading:  Southwestern Pottery Anasazi to Zuni by Hayes, Hayes and Blom

Provenance: from the estate of Frances Sonnenberg of Santa Fe, passed through the family