Hopi Polychrome Cylindrical Jar [SOLD]

The history of Hopi cylindrical jars is somewhat cloudy. They obviously had no functional use for the Hopi, so they must have been made solely to sell to visitors of the Hopi mesas. Whether it was Thomas Pavatea, who ran a trading post at First Mesa, or Thomas Keam, who ran a trading post at Keam's Canyon, is unimportant, but surely it was one of them who suggested to the potters to make these "anglo recognizable" shapes as curio items for the tourists, probably at a price of 15 cents each. Today, this shape is almost singly associated with Hopi-Tewa potters.

This one is traditional in every sense of the word. The design features two pair of stylized birds, each pair facing.  There are a few fire clouds providing warmth to the appearance.  The owner of this jar says it is attributed to Rachel Nampeyo, however, she has no such written documentation and the jar is not signed.

Condition:  excellent condition with some minor abrasion to the paint but nothing serious.

Provenance: from a former Arizona collector of Hopi pottery

Recommended Reading: Nampeyo and Her Pottery by Barbara Kramer