Description

Hopi Seed Pot by Kim Obrzut.

In the late 1800s, Hopi pottery experienced a historic change, often referred to as Sikyatki Revival or Hano Polychrome, and was directly related to visitors coming to the Hopi mesas. This birth of contemporary Hopi pottery began the era of non-utilitarian pottery for trade for goods such as coffee, flour, sugar, cloth, and metal utensils. Pottery is the direct descendant of early decorated pottery of the Anasazi.

The abandoned pre-historic village of Sikyatki brought anthropologist interest which in turn employed Hopi workers, and with it exposure to the ancient ancestral ceramic wares. The designs were not copied exactly but were used as inspiration and mixed with individual cultural influence and artistic genius. Many of the shapes and forms previously lost, however, were brought back, such as this squat, wide-shouldered jar.

This design represents lighting and rain for prayers of much needed moisture necessary for the crops. Hopi pottery is made from a fine clay enabling the potter to polish it with a smooth stone and apply mineral and vegetable paints directly onto the surface. This yellow ware is distinctly a characteristic of today’s Hopi pottery.