Nellie Bica Zuni Pueblo Owl Figurine with Owlet [SOLD]

This small Zuni Pueblo pottery owl figurine by Nellie Bica has a baby owl resting on the tail feathers of the mother owl. As in real life, the mother owl has large eyes, accented with eyelashes surrounding the eye. The mouths of both owls are the holes through which air escaped during the firing process. The bodies are filled with outlines for feathers.

Nellie Bica (1905-1998) is considered one of the most famous Zuni potters of the mid-20th century. She is especially noted for her pottery owl figures. She was prolific and respected for her fine artistry.

In 1917, Nellie learned to make pottery: "My mother's youngest sister taught me when I was in my teens. Owls were the first potteries I made. That's the way they taught them in those days. I always put babies on my owls. I think I was one of the first to make owls with legs. Now my daughter and three granddaughters make them, too."

After the passing of Tsayutitsa (ca.1871-1959) and Catalina Zunie (ca.1862-1949), Nellie Bica helped keep pottery making alive at Zuni Pueblo. Quanita Kalestewa, her daughter, said that Nellie used to fire her pottery early in the morning, "just when the sun rises." Nellie taught her daughter to pray when gathering clay and making pottery.

Nellie made pottery when not working at their family sheep ranch. She was asked to teach pottery at Zuni but explained that she was too busy with family responsibilities. She was a respected master potter.

Condition: very good condition with wear as expected to brown pigment due to age.

Provenance: this Nellie Bica Zuni Pueblo Owl Figurine with Owlet is from the collection of a client to whom we sold this in 2005

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Catalina Zunie, Quanita Kalestewa, Pueblo Pottery, Zuni Pueblo, Figurines, Nellie Bica