Hopi-Tewa Small Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

Joy Navasie (1919 - 2012) second Frog Woman - Yellow Flower is among the most famous of Hopi-Tewa potters. She learned the skill from her famous mother, Paqua Naha, the first Frog Woman. Paqua developed white-ware pottery in the mid-1950s and Joy continued the tradition until she ceased potting around 2000 due to health reasons.  She passed away in 2012. 

Joy Navasie (Frog Woman) and Helen Naha (Feather Woman) were sisters-in-law.  Helen Naha married Joy Navasie’s brother, Archie.  Both Joy and Helen specialized in white ware pottery.

This almost miniature pottery jar was as well made and designed and painted as Joy’s major pottery creations.  She devoted as much effort on this one as she would on a major jar.  The shape is exquisite and the painted design beautifully applied.  The jar dates to the late 1970s and is signed with Joy’s frog logo - hallmark.  NOTE:  The frog signature on this miniature jar does not appear to have webbed feet which would indicate it to have been made by Paqua Naha.  The frog, itself, does not look like those that Paqua made and do look more like those by Joy, so we have chosen to attribute this jar to Joy but it could have been made by Paqua.

Condition: excellent original condition

Recommended Reading: Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from a gentleman from Colorado who purchased it when living in Albuquerque in the 1970s.