Hopi Bowl with Man-Eagle Design, c.1900 [SOLD]

Nampeyo of Hano made a number of bowls incorporating the design of Kawtaka, or the fabled man-eagle.  Several bowls with this style design have been beautifully documented by Dr. Ed Wade, the noted authority on works by Nampeyo.

He stated that this design is among the most famous of ancient Sikyatki designs that have been reintroduced by Hopi Pueblo potters.  An early example with this style design was excavated by Dr. Jesse Walter Fewkes at the ancient village of Sikyatki, the 15^th century village of the Hopi. Wade says that Nampeyo was the first to use this design, most likely seen by her on a paper drawing from the ancient vessel by her husband, Lesso.  Other family members have used it since.

As Wade explains, Nampeyo did not copy designs from ancient vessels but used those designs in a modified manner suitable to her tastes.  In this example, Nampeyo has the two birds almost touching at their beaks, feathers raised on their heads, and their heads resting on the central design which is probably a Tiponi.  The red color she used on the birds elevates them to be the central accent point of the design, a deliberate attempt probably to downplay the significance of the Tiponi as she was preparing a work of art and not a work of ceremony.

The design is flawless and is heightened in appearance by the warm glow of the background slip.  The cream slip was so well polished that it has the appearance of porcelain.  This is an example of Nampeyo at her best.  The southwest Indian pottery bowl was probably completed by Nampeyo in the first quarter of the 20^th century, a time when her eyesight was still at its best.

Condition: very good condition with only a small abrasion on the edge of the rim, a very small expulsion of an impurity below the wing of the left bird, and a minor slip crack on the rim (see additional photos below).

Reference and Recommended Reading:

Canvas of Clay by Wade and Cooke

In Search of Nampeyo: The Early Years, 1875-1892 - a new book by Steve Elmore

Provenance:  from the collection of a gentleman from California