Wide Seed Jar with Migration Pattern by Fannie Nampeyo [SOLD]

This polychrome pottery jar was made by Hopi-Tewa artist Fannie Nampeyo. Like many of Fannie's works, this jar displays the "migration pattern," which represents the migration of the Hopi people through the four worlds. Here, the migration pattern appears within a wide design band, which covers the majority of the jar's exterior. Additional lines in black appear above and below the wide band. The jar's shape is immensely appealing. It's a low, wide seed jar, with an opening that measures less than half of the jar's total diameter.

While its form and design are wonderful, the jar's most appealing trait might be its coloration. There's nothing unusual about the black and red tones used for the designs, but the slip stands out as extraordinary. It varies quite a bit from tan to orange, which is typical. However, when it reaches its strongest orange tone it achieves a brilliant glow, which elevates the visual impact immeasurably without stepping outside the lines of traditional design.

The bottom of the jar is signed Fannie Nampeyo.

Fannie Polacca Nampeyo (1900-1987) was a Hopi-Tewa potter who was a daughter of Nampeyo of Hano and Lesou. She had two sisters, Annie Healing Nampeyo and Nellie Douma Nampeyo. They were all Corn Clan members. Lesou was a Tobacco Clan, but clan inheritance comes from the mother. Fannie had 7 children—Thomas, Elva, Tonita, Iris, Leah, Harold, and Ellsworth—all of whom were potters. Fannie won her first Blue Ribbon in 1961 from the Museum of Northern Arizona at the annual Hopi Show. Her pottery was selected for several museum exhibits in the 1990s. Since she was the youngest daughter of Nampeyo and Lesou, she was better known, personally, by many collectors, most of whom never met Annie or Nellie. She was still actively making pottery as late as the mid-1980s. She passed away in 1987.

Condition: very good condition, a few minor abrasions

Provenance: this Wide Seed Jar with Migration Pattern by Fannie Nampeyo is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: MASTER PUEBLO POTTERS-Maria Martinez, Santana & Adam Martinez, Lucy Lewis, Fannie Nampeyo and Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo, ACA Galleries, New York, September 6-27, 1980.

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Nampeyo of Hano, Annie Nampeyo, Nellie Nampeyo Douma, Thomas, Elva, Tonita, Iris, Leah, Contemporary Pottery, Fannie Polacca Nampeyo