Hopi Polychrome Pottery Canteen by Nampeyo of Hano [SOLD]

This pottery canteen was created by Hopi-Tewa matriarch Nampeyo of Hano. It features a strong depiction of what looks to us like Palhikmana, a katsina maiden who fulfills several functions. Barton Wright's book Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary places Palhikmana katsina in the Night Dances group, which, as he explains, are the dances held in the kivas in January before the arrival of the katsinas to Bean Dance in February. He states that at Third Mesa, puppet dances in the kiva feature the Salako and Palhikmana with the Water Serpent, but this is not done at First or Second Mesas. In these puppet dances, the Palhikmana is the maiden who grinds corn. [Wright, 1973:84]

Nampeyo's work with this piece is exceptional by any measure. The canteen's form is gorgeous. It is elegant and well-balanced, with perfectly formed handles and a spout that rises smoothly from the rounded body. The design work, which is completed in black and red, is remarkable. Napeyo's composition is nearly symmetrical, with the one exception being a red spot on the right side of Palhikmana's mask. The strength of the composition works well with the smaller scale of the canteen, resulting in a piece that could be a highlight of any collection.

The canteen is unsigned, which is typical. A black display stand is included.

Nampeyo of Hano (1857-1942) was a widely influential potter who lived and worked on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. Nampeyo is regarded today as one of the finest Hopi potters and one of the most important figures in Native American pottery. Her work is displayed in museums and collections around the world. Nampeyo was taught how to make pottery by her grandmother and began earning an income as a potter while she was still just a teenager. Less interested in innovation than perfection, Nampeyo took an early interest in the design and form of ancient Hopi pottery, which she believed to be superior to the pottery being created by her contemporaries. She visited the ruins of ancient villages and copied designs from pieces of prehistoric and protohistoric pottery onto paper, then reproduced the designs on her own vessels.

Condition: Excellent condition with the type of light abrasions that are typical for a piece of its age

Provenance: this Hopi Polychrome Pottery Canteen by Nampeyo of Hano is from a private Santa Fe collection, purchased from a dealer who acquired it from the estate of notable dealer Marti Struever

Recommended Reading:

- Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary, Barton Wright

- Canvas of Clay: Seven Centuries of Hopi Ceramic Art by Edwin L. Wade and Allan Cooke

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Fannie Polacca Nampeyo, Nellie Nampeyo Douma, Annie Healing Nampeyo, Nampeyo of Hano, Hopi-Tewa Potter and Matriarch