Joy Navasie “Frog Woman” Hopi-Tewa Pottery Bowl

Joy Navasie “Frog Woman” Hopi-Tewa Pottery Bowl

This polychrome jar, by famed artist Joy Navasie “Frog Woman”, is beautifully decorated with geometric and scrolling ornamentation in true Hopi fashion. The dark brick red and strong black paints stand out beautifully against the pure white slip. It has a frog hallmark under base.

     Artist Joy Navasie was among the most famous and talented of Hopi-Tewa potters.

     Joy Navasie (1919 – 2012) second Frog Woman – Yellow Flower learned the skill of making pottery from her famous mother, Paqua Naha, the first Frog Woman. Joy was born in 1919 and recalls that she started making pottery when she was about 17 years old. Paqua Naha, just a few years before she passed away, developed the white ware pottery style in the mid-1950s. Joy Navasie picked up the tradition and continued it until her retirement in 1995.
Now, her daughters (Marianne Navasie, Leona Navasie, Natelle Lee, Loretta Navasie Koshiway and Grace Lomahquahu) have continued the tradition. Joy Navasie signed her pottery with a frog hallmark, as did her mother.
There is a difference in the way they each drew the feet of the frog. Paqua Naha used short straight toes and Joy Navasie used webbed toes.

Details

Technique: Hand Thrown, Fired, and carved
Height: 9-1/4″
Width: 9″
Circumference: 25-3/4″
Top Opening: 4-3/4″
Potter’s Signature: signed on the bottom with the traditional frog hallmark of Joy Navasie.
Condition: The jar is in excellent condition except for a small chip on the lip of the bowl(pictured)