Occasionally—and very rarely—Helen made a storyteller figurine with the children sitting around the adult figure rather that adhering to the adult. She called these figurines Story Hour. Of course, they are still storytellers, but she designated them with a specific name.

Helen Cordero made the first storyteller figurine in 1964 as a tribute to her grandfather who was a storyteller at the pueblo. Alexander Girard, the great folk art collector, encouraged her to make more by purchasing all she made in the early days. I do not know the date or even time period when she made the first Story Hour, but it was later in her career.

This new creation of hers is another example of how creative she was. For a potter who said she was unable to make a vessel shape, she certainly found her calling when she started making figurine shapes.

It has a marvelous patina that fits with its age. It is signed Helen Cordero Cochiti, N.Mex.

Note: click on second detail image above to view the back of the storyteller and the signature.