Traditional
Hopi pottery of the modern era is polychrome, with black and red geometric and
stylized bird (parrot) designs on a yellow-gold background. A Hopi-Tewa woman
named Nampeyo, from the pueblo of Hano on First Mesa, popularized this style
in the late 19th century when she revived a prehistoric Hopi pottery type being
excavated at the archaeological site of Sikyatki.Thus, Hopi Polychrome may variously
be called "Sikyatki Revival" or "Hano Polychrome," or "Nampeyo
Polychrome." Above are two beautiful pots made by Nampeyo. 
The
one on the right was collected by Jesse Peter in the 1930s, at the same time
that he collected the large jar by Paqua Naha and the piki dough bowl
by Myrtle Luke, both of which appear on the right. The bowl below is by Fannie
Nampeyo, one of Nampeyo's daughters. It exhibits the Nampeyo family's famous
bird wing pattern. 
Today traditional golden Hopi pottery continues, but other styles have also been developed. Garnet Pavatea was known for her redware pieces decorated with small punctated triangles as you see below on the left. The miniature polychrome bowl in the middle is by Dextra Nampeyo, and the miniature redware jar on the far right is by Thomas Polacca.
11" in diameter |
1 1/2" in diameter |
1 3/4" high |
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