Hopi Pueblo

Pueblo Pottery Maine presents traditional and contemporary pottery by Hopi artists including Tonita Hamilton Nampeyo, Burel Naha, Nona Naha, Stetson Setalla, Gwen Setalla, Dolly Joe Navasie, Donna Navasie Robertson, Marianne Navasie, Gloria Mahle, Clinton Nampeyo, Adelle Lalo Nampeyo, Reva Polacca Ami, Neva Polacca Choyou, Carla Claw Nampeyo, Roberta Youvella Silas, James Garcia Nampeyo, Vernida Polacca, Venora Silas, Dorothy Ami, Venora Silas, and Dawn Navasie

How to make a Purchase

Karen Namoki (Bear Paw hallmark with profile of a Hopi Stone House) of Walpi has been an active potter since 1966 working with black and red on buff bowls, cups and sometimes plates. She is the granddaughter of Roscoe Navasie, Agnes Navasie and Josephine Setalla, and the niece of Eunice Navasie. Her teacher was Pauline Setalla.

"Karen Namoki has developed a distinctive style of pottery. Using a 14th century Sikyatki 'splatter' technique, she covers many of her pots with red and black densely speckled surfaces. Her designs are often pictorial, featuring Dawa, the Sun Kachina and profiles of butterfly wings. She sometimes uses double banded friezes of designs, especially cloud symbols, painted around the rim." Dr. Gregory Schaaf, "Hopi-Tewa Pottery", p.87

This is a truly fine, classic Karen plate measuring 8 inches across and 2 inches tall. No flaws and a wonderful creation using Dawa, the Sun Kachina. If you have Gregory Schaaf's book you can see this same plate on page 87. Your price $220 ~ Item #H217. Only one image.

How to make a Purchase

Nampeyo of Hano - "At the beginning of the 20th century, Nampeyo was the first pueblo potter to gain fame beyond the American Southwest. Today, her name ranks among the highly honored pottery artists, including Maria Martinez and Margaret Tafoya. Nampeyo and her descendents are best known for reviving and expanding a beautiful ancient style of pottery called Sikyatki." Gregory Schaaf, "Hopi tewa Pottery".

Nampeyo was an active potter from 1859 through 1942 working in a variety of different styles. Her work is included in dozens of publications and in the best museum collections around the world. It is rare, highly collectible and a important  cornerstone of the pueblo pottery tradition of today. For a more detailed biography click here.

This bowl, often called a "food bowl" has a cream color with a Polacca slip. There are two framing lines on the bowl interior that surround a stylized motif that appears to represent a bird with outspread wings and tail feathers. There are four units on the bowl rim, each consisting of three dots; these are surrounded by an exterior continuous band of dots paralleling the rim. The rim edge of the bowl has slightly thickened clay and there is an applied lug on the bowl which is pierced. There is a small segment of tape on the bowl reverse with illegible writing. The perfect condition of this vessel attests that it had never been used and consequently had been an early acquisition of a western adventure in search of mementoes. Circa 1890-1895.

This beautiful polychrome pottery bowl is accompanied by letters of authenticity by Southwest Indian arts and crafts scholars Martha Hopkins Struever of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Edwin L.Wade of Sedona, Arizona. It measures 8 inches in diameter by 2 3/8 inches high. One of Santa Fe's foremost galleries offered a very similar bowl in 2008 for $22,500. The price of this magnificent piece is $12,500. ~ Item #H230. Please call for purchase information. Click here to see enlargements.

Place your cursor on the image to see another view of the pottery.

How to make a Purchase

Roberta Youvella Silas (d.11/21/2009), of Hopi First Mesa, created these beautifully shaped and painted pots in her unique style that has become her hallmark. She is of Hopi/Laguna heritage, Kachina clan, and has been an active potter since 1960. Her work is incredibly rich and well made with a great hand for detail and a tradition that comes of a great heart. She is a very genuine person and we are proud to know her.

At left is one of her classics with the graphics that she and her daughters are widely known for using on their pots. This pot measures 6.5 inches tall by 7.5 inches wide. Your price $625 ~ Item #H196. Click here for an enlargement. SOLD

The pot at right illustrates the complexity of her designs which are mixed with open space. It measures 6.25 inches tall by 6.5 inches wide. Your price $395 ~ Item #H197. Click here for an enlargement.

Roberta was born in 1939 to Pauline and Roy Youvella and is self taught. She is the mother of Antoinette Silas, Venora Silas, Louann Silas and Jofern Silas Puffer - all accomplished potters. She uses bands of Sikyatki designs on her pots which includes parrots, lightening, clouds and feathers. Her work is exquisite and perfectly executed after decades of creating pottery. She has won many awards and her work is in numerous major collections both public and private. A must for any collection. All her work is hand coiled, hand painted and pit fired in the traditional way.

Place your cursor on the image at right to see another view of the pottery.