Hopi Polychrome Flat-top Seed Jar by Mark Tahbo [R]

Mark Tahbo has been a consistent award winner at Santa Fe Indian Market.  In 1991, he won Overall Prize at Indian Market.  In 1992 he was awarded Best of Division at the Heard Museum Indian Fair. Awards continued to be presented to him in 1993 and 1994 and later.

Tahbo is the great-grandson of famous Hopi potter Grace Chapella, and the grandson of her daughter Alma Tahbo.  His siblings are potters too.  Grace Chapella, of course, is famous for living to 106 years and continuing to make pottery past her 100th birthday.

This recently-made seed jar is traditional in vessel shape to the Sikyatki seed jars but the design is purely the creation of the artist.  Tahbo has married tradition with innovation.  The square design around the opening is traditional but generally it is painted solid red.  Tahbo painted it a tan color.  The remainder of the design is his modern interpretation of the traditional batwing design, originally found on prehistoric Sikyatki pottery and revived in the 19^th century by Nampeyo of Hano.

Condition:  The jar is contemporary, having recently been made.  It is signed M. Tahbo '11'.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Albuquerque

Recommended Reading:  Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf