Vintage Hopi Polychrome Wedding Vase by Feather Woman 0013

Vintage Hopi Polychrome Wedding Vase

This Vintage Hopi Polychrome Wedding Vase by Helen Naha, the original Feather Woman, is an important piece, because these are getting harder and harder to find. Helen hand built the coils and pinched them smooth and hand shaped the clay. Free hand painted, it was fired using traditional methods. This particular pattern is celebrates the parrot, coveted by the pueblo people for its spirituality and colorful feathers...... it is just beautiful! It's in solid condition but there is wear commensurate with age, with chips in both spouts. About 10" tall and 7-1/4" wide, it is mid 20th century and is feather signed. This Vintage Hopi Polychrome Wedding Vase is a wonderful piece of pueblo artistry and it's one of a kind!

Helen Naha (1922-1993) and Joy Navasie (2nd Frog Woman) were sisters-in-law. The two families lived on a large ranch just east of Keam's Canyon on the Hopi Reservation. She was active from 1940-1993 and was an award winning artisan, whose work is highly collectible. She is referenced in Schaaf's "Hopi-Tewa Pottery 500 Artist Biographies" and Hayes and Blom's "Southwestern pottery Anasazi to Zuni".

She has been recognized by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts for her body of work through the creation of the Helen Naha Memorial Award For Excellence in Traditional Hopi Pottery, an extremely prestigious award!