Posted 5 years ago
shareurpas…
(318 items)
I also picked up this piece of pottery but have questions myself on it. No matter what the outcome is, I still like it.
Weight: 2lb 2oz
Diameter: 7~1/2"
When I tap it with my fingernails, it 'sounds' very fragile. The shape is perfect, not lopsided at all and it sits nice and flat, which is unusual in and of itself!
(Edit) Could this be Hohokam brownware or buffware from Tuscon? It's sinew wrapped and the bells on here remind me of possible 50's. The flaps of beaded leather with the fringe are somehow 'glued' onto the surface while the beaded bells (also on sinew) hang and move freely. that made me wonder if this is ceremonial?
(Edit #2) These beads are not what met the eye. The beads I thought were black are actually cobalt blue transparent beads so must be glass. The orange, red and 'white' beads are not uniform, I am completely stumped!
I think it's Navajo, only because the signature looks like U Yazzy to me but not so sure on that either.
I should just say, I don't know for sure one thing about it! So, hoping CanyonRoad can help me id this and possibly date it for me. It's definitely different than I've seen. And what would the top two 'extended' pieces be other than what I would call 'prunts'? There's no hole on either side of those as if to hold a handle. And there are no distinct horse hair marks on here.
Would love to know what I have found here.
Thanks for any help I can get and excited to find out the 5 W's on this.
The more I read, the more confused I get! I have no clue.
It appears to be contemporary Studio Pottery with a Native American design or theme, made for the decorator market, based on the way it is signed and decorated.
It was fired in an outdoor fire, rather than in a kiln, and is therefore decorative, rather than functional. It wouldn't be considered "horse hair" pottery.
(Despite the claims on the internet, horse hair decoration isn't a traditional Native American technique, but rather is credited to Paul Soldner, noted U.S. studio potter, who developed the process in connection with his American Raku, or post-firing reduction, work in the 1960s. He taught workshops and classes on the process, so there are thousands of potters world wide who are familiar with the process and have tried it. )
I would doubt there is any tribal affiliation on the part of the potter. Most tribal members today recognize the value of signing with a tribal affiliation, if there is one. No tribe traditionally makes anything vaguely like this.
CanyonRoad. No wonder I could not find any ties from any tribe connected with this! But so grateful you knew and gave me a clue! Thanks so much for you assistance and knowledge in putting an end to my research that would have driven me over the edge. I did not know about the pit fired ceramic pottery until I had this in my possession. It does resemble the Hohokam pottery, but with the bells and the glass beads, I knew it could not have been that, especially since what is found to be Hohokam, is usually just shards. I'm also grateful I didn't put much cash in on it! Mystery solved! Thank you very much!
Thanks for stopping in:
fort,
Kevin,
Jenni,
aura &
Mr J!
Always appreciated!
Thanks for stopping in bb2 and Thomas! xoxo
Thanks for the love Ms Mary! Always appreciated!