Adobe Gallery Blog
Polacca-Style Hopi Polychrome Bowl by Nampeyo of Hano - C3304
I am confident Nampeyo of Hano made this bowl. I believe she made it between 1890 and 1895. The reasoning for this attribution to Nampeyo is based on a number of clues.
The shape and construction of the bowl, along with the design elements and artistic execution, all point to her hand. The Polacca Style C designs she used on this bowl appear to be adapted from popular 1860 to 1890 Polacca wares. Who else was using these early designs but Nampeyo?
In the 1900 federal census, only Nampeyo and one other woman called themselves "potters." (Kramer, p.34). We know, according to Fewkes, that Nampeyo began to "cleverly imitate" Sikyatki ware as early as 1895. Based on this, I believe some of the pieces she made from Polacca wares predated those made from Sikyatki wares and were as early as 1890.