Fannie Polacca Nampeyo, Hopi-Tewa Potter

Hopi Pueblo artist Fannie Polacca Nampeyo is perhaps the most famous of Nampeyo of Hano's three daughters and produced during the period when collectors were seriously collecting signed pottery. The other two are Annie Healing Nampeyo and Nellie Nampeyo Douma.

At that time, she was the oldest Nampeyo family member. She remained true to tradition in vessel construction and design throughout her career. I watched Fannie in every stage of pottery production but the thing I remember most was the way she would get out a large jar of Vaseline and rubbed a little bit on her fired pot, then burnish it with an old pair of panty hose that she slipped over her hand. The result was a beautiful patina.

Fannie Polacca Nampeyo (1900-1987), Corn Clan, had 7 children—Thomas, Elva, Tonita, Iris, Leah, Harold and Ellsworth—all of whom were potters, full time or occasionally.

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

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