Hopi-Tewa Medium-sized Migration Pattern Jar [SOLD]

Fannie Polacca Nampeyo (1900-1987) was a daughter of Nampeyo and Lesou and she had two sisters, Annie Healing and Nellie Douma.  They were all Corn Clan, the clan of their mom.  Lesou was Tobacco Clan but clan inheritance is from the mother.  Fannie had 7 children—Thomas, Elva, Tonita, Iris, Leah, Harold and Ellsworth—all of whom were potters, full time or occasionally.

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 in the mid-1980s.

One of Fannie’s favorite designs was the migration pattern—supposedly delineating the migration of the Hopi people through four worlds.  Whether it was her favorite or whether she produced it because it was collector’s favorite is unknown, but it is the one she seems to have made more often.

This jar with the migration pattern is very typical in vessel shape and design of her wares.  Interestingly, it is a medium-sized one whereas many were either small or very large.  This one is a very good size for most collectors.

Condition: very good condition with only minor abrasion to the brown painted areas

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.  Photo of Fannie and Nampeyo (above) courtesy of Rick Dillingham (this book).  Fannie is to the left Nampeyo is to the right.

Provenance: from a gentleman living in Colorado who collected this while living in Albuquerque in the 1970s and 1980s.