Hopi-Tewa Miniature Seed Jar with Fred Harvey Company Label [SOLD]

This charming miniature Hopi-Tewa seed jar is not signed with the name of a potter, but it does have affixed to it one of the Fred Harvey Company paper labels “From the Hopi Villages,” a label affixed to pottery in the gift shop at the Grand Canyon.  We know that Nampeyo, with members of her family, spent two summers living and demonstrating at the Grand Canyon during the early 20th century.   It is probably for those two reasons—Nampeyo’s residence there and the paper label—that influenced an art appraiser to recently identify this as having been made by Nampeyo and setting a value of $5000 to it.  The mistake is understandable, something any of us could do.

When we accepted the jar on consignment, we told the consignor that we did not believe that it was made by Nampeyo, and the value would be considerably less than the appraised value.  They put their trust in us and, to make sure we were on the right track, we consulted a Nampeyo expert, who wholeheartedly agreed with us.  We therefore present this as a charming miniature Hopi-Tewa seed jar from the early 20th century but without knowledge of the maker.

The revival of the Sikyatki design on the jar is unusual in that there are only three of the design elements, rather than the normal four.  Perhaps it is because of the miniature size of the jar that the potter chose to present three larger designs rather than four smaller ones.  It is a wonderful small Hopi-Tewa treasure without the benefit of knowing its maker.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Hopi-Tewa Miniature Seed Jar with Fred Harvey Company Label is from the estate of a gentleman from Santa Fe

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

Relative Links: Daisy Hooee Nampeyo, Annie Healing Nampeyo, Nampeyo of Hano, Pottery, Hopi Pueblo