Special Offer: Polychrome Small Canteen with Butterfly Design [SOLD]

Special Offer: The owner has authorized us to reduce the price of this canteen from $750.00 to a new price of $550.00, a reduction greater than 25%.

This is a wonderful small Hopi-Tewa canteen in excellent condition. There are no chips, cracks or repairs, although there is some wear evident to the painted design as would be expected in a historic piece of this age. Wear to the painted design is evidence of many hands holding and rubbing the piece over time, a sure sign of appreciation and affection.

The design is a full version butterfly executed in black paint with red wings. Of course, this butterfly design is a hallmark of Grace Chapella and members of her family, but I do not know that Chapella made it. I am sure other potters used the same design.

The canteen dates to the early 20^th century, certainly no later than 1925. It was probably made to be sold to a visitor to the reservation rather than to be used by a member of the tribe. The size is not large enough to hold sufficient water to be practical.