Very Large Polychrome Seed Jar by Nampeyo and Fannie [SOLD]

It has been well published that the matriarch Nampeyo of Hano began having eyesight problems around 1920 and her sight continued to deteriorate until she passed away in 1942.  Nampeyo, of Hopi Pueblo, was so experienced by the 1920s at making pottery, she was able to continue forming and finishing pottery vessels even with diminished sight.  What she could no longer accomplish was painting designs on her pottery.

It was at that time, in the 1920s, that Annie Healing began painting her mom’s pottery.  Nampeyo would make the jar, accomplish the finishing work and then Annie would paint the design and assist in firing the vessel.  Annie, herself, was an accomplished potter and made her own pottery in addition to assisting her mom.  When the youngest daughter, Fannie Polacca, was able to assist, she relieved Annie from having to paint all her mom’s pottery and Fannie then began to assist by painting pottery for Nampeyo.  Fannie, too, was making her own pottery as well.

Nampeyo did not sign her work, as it has been published that she was unable to write her name.  Late in her career, when Annie was helping, she would then sign Nampeyo on the jars for her mom.  It has been stated that those with the name Nampeyo were all painted by Annie.  It also has been published that Fannie signed her mom’s pottery that she painted for her mom.  Fannie signed her own pottery with the name Fannie Nampeyo.  She signed her mom’s pottery for her with the dual names Nampeyo Fannie.

This large seed jar was made by Nampeyo, probably in the 1930s, and painted by Fannie Polacca for her mom.  It bears the dual names Nampeyo Fannie.  It is one of the most unusual Nampeyo family designs that one can easily interpret as a very stylized bird.  Granted, it takes some imagination but one can see wings, feathers, beaks, heads, etc. if one looks with an open mind. It is refreshing to see such a modern-looking design on a jar of that vintage.

Condition: the jar is in excellent condition, with one very insignificant spall mark (see below).  It does tilt slightly to one side but not significantly.

Recommended Reading: Canvas of Clay: Seven Centuries of Hopi Ceramic Art by Edwin L. Wade and Allan Cooke

Provenance: from a gentleman from New Mexico