Grace Chapella Large Polychrome Jar with Moth Designs [SOLD]

This remarkable polychrome jar was made by Hopi-Tewa potter Grace Chapella. It is not often that we acquire one of Chapella's works, and we are always delighted by those rare occasions when we do. We have handled a few large seed jars by Chapella. Each example has been excellent, and this is one of our favorites.

At thirteen inches in diameter and nearly nine in height, this is a large piece with an impressive presence. Its form—clearly handmade, not perfectly symmetrical, but perfectly elegant and well balanced—is worthy of praise, as are its designs. Two design bands circle the exterior, with one appearing on the shoulder and another just below. Each uses a repeating pattern, but the lower band's design repeats many times while the upper band's design appears four times. The upper band features a delightful iteration of the moth (or butterfly, to some) design that appears often on Chapella's pots.

While all of the aforementioned traits are notable, the jar's most appealing characteristic might be its coloration. The slip took on a gorgeous, warm orange tone that is undeniably beautiful. It shifts in certain areas to a more neutral cream tone, and around the base, a few soft gray fire clouds appear. The painted designs in bold black and soft red complement the orange slip beautifully, and the piece is exquisite and full of character.

The bottom of the jar is signed Grace Chapella.

Grace Chapella (1874-1980) White Squash Blossom was a neighbor of Nampeyo of Hano, who was 14 years Chapella's senior. Chapella credited Nampeyo with teaching her the techniques of pottery making. Having lived for over a century—she passed away at age 107—Chapella (pronounced Tsepela) witnessed many changes in her life on the Hopi mesa where she lived. She was a youngster at a time before trading posts and tourists were introduced to the reservation and lived to see both flourish and the demand for pottery grow at leaps and bounds. Although her pottery, and that of others at First Mesa, is referred to as Hopi pottery, technically it is Hopi-Tewa pottery, as the residents of First Mesa are of Tewa clans. Many of Chapella's designs are from the Sikyatki ruins. The butterfly (or moth) design is the one most identified with her. The butterfly or moth is now considered as belonging to the Chapella family. Her daughter Alma Tahbo, granddaughter Deanna Tahbo, and great-grandson Mark Tahbo continued to use it on their pottery.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Grace Chapella Large Polychrome Jar with Moth Designs is  from the personal collection of Bob and Louise Sluder, dealers/collectors who were active from the mid-50s through the 90s

Reference: Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Hopi Reservation, Contemporary Pottery, Nampeyo of Hano, Alma Tahbo, Mark Tahbo. Grace Chapella