Diné Jar with Hummingbirds by Christine McHorse [SOLD]

This award-winning pottery jar with hummingbirds was created by Diné of the Navajo Nation artist Christine McHorse. It was made in 2003, and it received "First Place" and "Best of Division" awards at Santa Fe Indian Market. The vessel form is like certain pueblos' ollas, with a round shoulder and a tall, flared neck. It is a thin-walled vessel, and it's slipped in piñon pitch, both of which are typical characteristics of Diné pottery.

McHorse used pigments and clay to form a band of hummingbirds around the shoulder. Pigments define the lower sections of the hummingbirds' bodies, and raised clay elements form the heads and wings. They are depicted in flight, with their wings raised. The jar's coloration—golden brown, with a thick black fire cloud—further enhances the visual appeal.

The bottom of the jar is signed C. McHorse. The Santa Fe Indian Market ribbons are included.

Quite simply put, Christine Nofchissey McHorse (1948-2021) was one of the most influential Diné potters. Her unique vision developed out of the melding of three cultures—Diné, Pueblo, and Anglo. Her work earned her numerous awards and ribbons—including Santa Fe Indian Market—and garnered respect throughout the art world for the proud tradition of Navajo pottery.

Condition: Good condition. A few light abrasions appear, and one minor area of restoration. A small semicircular area at the rim was treated by a restoration artist.

Provenance: this Diné Jar with Hummingbirds by Christine McHorse is from a private collection, originally purchased from the artist at Santa Fe Indian Market

Recommended Reading:

- FREE SPIRIT: the New Native American Potter by Garth Clark. Publisher: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

- NAVAJO FOLK ART The People Speak by Chuck and Jan Rosenak, 1994

TAGS: Navajo, pottery, Taos Pueblo, Christine Nofchissey McHorse