Modern Polychrome Hopi Female Storyteller c. 1990s by Mary Chalan

Here is a quite small circa 1990s storyteller figurine with the adult woman adorned with a squash blossom necklace and traditional Hopi squash blossom whorls (poli'ini). Unmarried young women of marriageable age traditionally wear their hair in these large, figure-eight side whorls wrapped around u-shaped wooden bows to symbolize fertility and readiness for womanhood in Hopi culture. Why Chalan was not Hopi, storyteller figurines became immensely popular in the mid-to-late 20th century, and potters began incorporating recognizable clothing motifs, jewelry, and traditional hairstyles from neighboring nations to celebrate a broader, shared Southwestern Native American culture.

Delighted expressions on the children's faces convey the joyful energy of the scene as they listen to the young storyteller share oral traditions or songs. The artist demonstrates a masterful use of polychrome, pairing dark-black accents with soft light-brown earth pigments to create striking volume and visual texture in their garments. Throughout the sculpture, fine line work and intricate detailing, executed with a fine-tipped brush, highlight the high level of craft and care woven into the piece.

A Deeper Look at Mary O. Chalan

Drawing from generations of Pueblo artistry, and learning directly from a master, Mary O. Chalan (1939 -) was inspired by her mother-in-law, Helen Cordero, who created the very first storyteller figurines. Honoring time-tested traditions, Chalan brings her beloved storytellers to life through hand-coiled clay and rich, natural pigments, celebrating elders and the enduring power of oral tradition. Her exceptional artistry has earned awards at the New Mexico State Fair as well as prominent exhibitions across Arizona and Colorado, and her work was proudly featured on the cover of New Mexico Magazine. This figurine is signed on the bottom Mary O. Chalan. Cochiti, NM.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Modern Polychrome Hopi Female Storyteller by Mary Chalan is from a client of Adobe Gallery.

Reference and Recommended Reading: 

• Pottery of the Southwest by Allan and Carol Hayes 

• Clay Mirror, From Monos to Storytellers: Reflections from Cochiti Pueblo by Tom & Charlotte Mittler

TAGS: Cochiti Pueblo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Helen Cordero, Mary O. Chalan