Hopi Sikyatki Revival Seed Jar [SOLD]

Elva Tewaguna Nampeyo was a granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and daughter of Fannie Nampeyo.  She has been gone over 30 years now so there are not many of her wares on the market, and there certainly are not many of this magnificence.  She was an exceptional potter and her work never deteriorated later in her life when she became ill.  She certainly was one of the exceptional potters of her generation.

Elva was the mother of a family most of whom also became potters.  Her daughters were Miriam, Adelle, and Neva and her son was Elton.  Elva's siblings were also potters.  They were Leah, Harold, Tonita, Tom, Ellsworth, and Iris.

This jar was beautifully formed of native clay from the Hopi village and all the paints are from mineral sources around the village.  There is nothing commercial used in the making of this vessel.  It was fired in the traditional outdoor firing technique practiced by the Hopi for centuries.

The design has been referred to as a bat wing and it is often used with an orange square surrounding the opening from which four bat wing designs are appended.

Condition:  The jar is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: from a family collection from Pennsylvania

Recommended Reading:  Hopi Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies by Greg Schaaf