Ida Redbird (1892-1971)

Ida Redbird is probably the most famous of all Maricopa potters. She produced throughout most of the first half of the 20th Century. On August 10, 1971, she went outside to escape the sweltering heat of the night. She fell asleep under a tree. During the night a storm arose, lightning struck the tree, and it fell on her and took her life.

Ida Redbird is in the Arizona Woman's Hall of Fame, she was part of the 1937-1940 Maricopa Pottery Revival and the first president of the Maricopa Pottery Makers Association (Maricopa Pottery Cooperative). Ida was the translator/informant to Leslie Spier who wrote "Yuma Tribes of the Gila River". Ida was taught pottery making skills by her mother. Ida Redbird is mother to Malinda Redbird; Mother-in-law to Anita Redbird; Cousin to Mabel Sunn and Mary Juan.

Source of these images is unknown.

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