Hopi Polychrome Jar with Dual Red Pigments [SOLD]

This jar is one with pictorial design elements, as probably one could say regarding all Sikyatki and Sikyatki-revival jar designs, since most of them feature some form of stylized bird elements, however, this one features two designs of the Plumed Serpent.  The Hopi version, as seen on prehistoric Hopi pottery, is different from the manner in which the New Mexico Tewa Pueblos present their version of the Plumed Serpent or Avanyu.  Of course, these versions as presented on this jar could be Mark Tahbo’s imagination and artist license taking control.  The diamond on the body of one of the serpents represents the house where the serpent resides according to Hopi legend.  Mark admitted that the serpent might resemble an octopus in some people’s mind but that is not the intent.

The other two designs are variations of the eagle tail design from Sikyatki pottery shards.  The two hanging tassel-like elements represent corn.  Around the neck of the jar, Mark used a red clay and on the jar design, he used a burgundy pigment from rock. The clay pigment is stone polished but the rock pigment remains in matte finish. 

An innovation by Mark is his choice of clay.  The artists at Hopi have a choice of clay from the Jeddito region, just behind the village of Polacca, or Sikyatki clay from the prehistoric ruins so important to the career of Nampeyo.  In this jar, Mark selected clay from Jeddito which fires to a beautiful orange blush.  It has even been speculated that the vessels of gold that the Spaniards were looking for could easily have been the beautiful gold-color prehistoric Jeddito wares. (Hargrave)*

Condition: new

Provenance: from the artist

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

*American Southwest Virtual Museum, Northern Arizona University.