Hopi-Tewa Polychrome Pottery Seed Jar by Les Namingha [SOLD]

“Les Namingha is an exceptional potter.  His forms are well shaped. His painting is fine; his designs innovative.  His final polish is smooth. He is well respected. In the January 1998 issue of Southwest Art Magazine, Les Namingha was profiled in an article entitled, ‘Artists to Watch: Introducing six young artists on the rise.’” Schaaf 1998:85

It has been published that Les Namingha began making pottery in 1990 and this seed jar was purchased in 1997 by the current owner.  If both of these facts are accurately reported, then Les Namingha learned the processes of pottery making in record time. This jar is as thin-walled as Acoma Pueblo pottery and that is not normally a characteristic of Hopi-Tewa pottery.  The painted design is abstract, beautifully balanced and expertly applied. The jar is signed by the artist but not dated. There is a spiral inscribed in the clay on the underside.

Les Namingha (b.1968) is the grandson of Rachel Namingha Nampeyo, nephew of Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, cousin of Dan Namingha and Hisi Nampeyo.  Les’s dad was Emerson Namingha (Tewa) and his mother was a Zuni tribal member.  

Condition: this Hopi-Tewa Polychrome Pottery Seed Jar by Les Namingha is in original condition

Provenance: from a collection of contemporary pottery of a family from New Jersey

Reference: Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies, by Gregory Schaaf. 

Relative Links: Rachel Namingha Nampeyo, Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo, Dan Namingha, Nampeyo, Hopi Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, Pottery, Les Namingha