Hopi Four-color Polychrome Seed Jar with Sikyatki Design [SOLD]

Jacob Myron Koopee passed away in the summer of 2011 at the early age of 41 years. He was the grandson of Marie Koopee, great-grandson of Nellie Nampeyo and great great grandson of Nampeyo of Hano. He was at the height of his career and had received many awards for his pottery. He was accepted as one of the finest of contemporary Hopi potters. His is a great loss to collectors.

This very traditional Sikyatki-inspired seed jar is testament to his talent.  This vessel shape has been acknowledged to be the most difficult to make as the weight of wet clay on the upper shoulder is difficult to keep in place while it dries.  Koopee mastered the technique.  The eagle tail with rectangle and swirls was beautifully and symmetrically applied throughout the upper half of the jar.  Each fine line is straight and parallel to the one next to it.  The spirals or swirls are precise in their application.  The painted design could not have been better executed.

Condition: The jar is in absolute pristine original condition and is spectacularly beautiful.

Recommended Reading: There is a two-page spread of Koopee in Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

Provenance:  ex. coll. of a client from Texas