Eagle Tail Hopi Polychrome Jar by Nampeyo of Hano [SOLD]

Created in the early 20th century by Nampeyo of Hano, this polychrome jar showcases a variation of the Sikyatki eagle tail design. Nampeyo was renowned for her pivotal role in the Sikyatki revival, a movement aimed at reintroducing the ancient pottery styles and motifs of the Hopi people. Her work frequently incorporated intricate designs inspired by ancestral pottery, with the eagle tail motif being a prominent example. This motif typically features stylized feathers and curvilinear patterns that evoke the elegance and power of the eagle. On this jar, the eagle tail design wraps around the shoulder, surrounded by a bold framing line.

Nampeyo of Hano (1857-1942) was a highly influential potter on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. Regarded as one of the finest Hopi potters and a key figure in Native American pottery, her work is featured in museums and collections worldwide. Although her pottery is rarely signed, it is well-documented and easily identifiable to collectors.

Taught by her grandmother, Nampeyo began earning an income as a potter in her teenage years. She focused on perfecting the design and form of ancient Hopi pottery, believing it superior to contemporary works. She often visited ancient ruins to study and replicate prehistoric and protohistoric designs on her vessels.

Nampeyo had five children: Fannie Polacca Nampeyo, Wesley Lesso, Nellie Nampeyo Douma, William Lesso, and Annie Healing Nampeyo. Noted photographer W. H. Jackson, who photographed her in 1875, estimated her birth year as 1857 or 1858 based on her age at the time.

Condition: Very good condition with minor abrasions

Provenance: this Eagle Tail Hopi Polychrome Jar by Nampeyo of Hano is from a private collection

Recommended Reading:

- Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

- Fourteen Families In Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham.

- The Legacy of a Master Potter: Nampeyo and her Descendants by Mary Ellen and Laurence Blair

TAGS: Hopi Pueblo, Fannie Polacca Nampeyo, Nellie Nampeyo Douma, Annie Healing Nampeyo, Fred Harvey Company, Nampeyo of Hano