Hopi-Tewa Tall Cylindrical Jar [SOLD]

Early in his career, Jacob Koopee made traditional Hopi-Tewa pottery with traditional Nampeyo family design patterns.  At that time, in the mid-1990s, he signed his pottery Jake Nampeyo.  Later, he made traditional pottery vessel shapes but modernized the designs to those related to the Sikyatki-revival designs.  He signed the later pieces Koopee.

This cylindrical jar is most certainly a traditional Hopi shape. Hopi-Tewa potters have made cylindrical vessels for over a hundred years.  Koopee also applied a very traditional Sikyatki-revival migration pattern to the jar.

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.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: from a gentleman collector from Oregon who purchased it in 1995.

Recommended Reading: Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies by Gregory and Angie Schaaf