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Hopi Pueblo pottery is created by the Hopi Native Americans who live in northeastern Arizona, where their Anasazi ancestors established a civilization based on dry farming centuries ago. Corn and all that is needed for it to thrive is the basis of both the Hopi tribe’s physical sustenance, their spiritual traditions, and their art.
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Recognizing Hopi Pueblo Pottery Made by Hopi Native American Artists
There are some common threads running through the various styles and designs of pottery created by Hopi artists. First is the color: Hopi pottery is mostly buff-colored and decorated with terra cotta and black paints. The earth-tone-dominated color scheme of Hopi pottery hints at the tribe’s connection to the Land.
A second common thread among Hopi pottery is characteristic patterns. Hopi artists favor three designs:
- Migration
- Eagle
- Butterfly Maiden
Each of these patterns reinforces the importance of Land to the Hopi tribes’ way of life.
The Significance of Patterns in Hopi Pottery
The Migration pattern is created by a repetition of curving feathers moving in the same direction. Within the feathers are fine lines similar to those seen on Acoma Pueblo pottery. The Migration pattern symbolizes the movement of the Hopi people to find new sources of food and water in times of drought.
The Eagle (sometimes depicted as just the Eagle tail pattern) is special among the Hopi as the carrier of prayers to the Creator. The Eagle is associated with courage and wisdom.
The Butterfly Maiden can often be identified by a headdress adorned by feathers, shapes suggestive of wings, and/or upward-pointing arrows. Butterfly Maiden is a fertility kachina, ruling the springtime and governing the Earth’s fertility.
Hopi Native American Pottery Art: The Nampeyo Line and Frog Woman
Hopi Native American pottery as art is largely credited to Nampeyo who created pottery in the 1880s when Western expansion fed curiosity about the “Wild West” back East. Her work stood out among that of other potters, which won her recognition among American artists. Her skills and style have been passed down through the generations, and many renowned Hopi Native American pottery artists are descendants of Nampeyo.
Another famous line of Hopi artists is those from the clan of Frog Woman. Joy Navasie, known as Frog Woman because of the frog she painted on the bottom of her pieces as a signature, was known for her work with white pottery. Her pieces have become collectibles, although her descendants also create pottery in her signature style.
Add Hopi Native American Pottery Art to Your Collection
Palms Trading Company carries a selection of fine Hopi Native American pottery from artists of the Nampeyo line, Frog Woman tradition, and others. If you would like to experience the magic (and benefits) of authentic Native American pottery, add a Hopi tribe piece, like our Hopi Pueblo pottery, to your collection. Our personal shopper can assist you in exploring our larger Albuquerque in-store collection. Contact us to get started.
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