Description
Yellowware Jar by Nampeyo Family, c. 1910
This Hopi yellowware seed jar, attributed to the Nampeyo family and dating to circa 1910, presents a rare and highly inventive four-paneled composition that exemplifies the early maturity of the Sikyatki Revival. The design features two butterflies nicely worked into the geometry of the overall geometric design. The vessel’s low, rounded form is anchored by a warm, stone-polished slip, with a soft arbrush that transitions from creamy ivory to golden ochre along the neck. Each of the four panels is distinctly conceived, yet harmoniously integrated, showcasing a dynamic interplay of bold geometric abstraction and finely controlled linework. Stylized avian elements emerge in fragmented, almost cubist-like forms, interwoven with kiva step motifs, spirals, and linear hatchings that create a sense of movement across the surface.
This piece measures 5 ¼” in height by 6 ½” in diameter. There is a great old trading post label on the bottom that reads “Hopi Indian”
