Hopi-Tewa Historic Pottery Bowl with Exterior Rim Design

This Hopi-Tewa bowl, measuring 5 inches in height and 9 inches in diameter, is a beautiful example of the aesthetic sensibilities and cultural blending characteristic of Hopi-Tewa pottery. The Hopi-Tewa are descendants of Tewa-speaking Pueblo people who migrated to the Hopi mesas in the late 1600s, settling primarily in the village of Hano on First Mesa. Over generations, they developed a distinct pottery tradition that merges their ancestral styles with Hopi influences.

This bowl features a slightly indented band at the rim, which serves as the sole area for painted decoration — an approach that echoes the layout of historic Tewa Polychrome vessels. Within this narrow band is a series of carefully bordered, repeated design units, each forming a complete and self-contained composition. The iconography and use of symmetry create a rhythmic visual flow around the bowl, emphasizing balance and intentionality. The precise application and restrained use of space give the piece a quiet sophistication.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: This Hopi-Tewa Historic Pottery Bowl with Exterior Rim Design is from a gentleman in Alaska. He received the bowl as a gift during a visit to the village of Old Oraibi in 1978.

Recommended Reading: Canvas of Clay: Seven Centuries of Hopi Ceramic Art by Edwin L. Wade and Allan Cooke

TAGS: pottery, Hopi Pueblo