Native American- Hopi pottery spirit bowl by artist Barbara Polacca #BP527


Native American- Hopi pottery spirit bowl by artist Barbara Polacca  #BP527

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Native American- Hopi pottery spirit bowl by artist Barbara Polacca #BP527:
$55.00


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Description- Pottery spirit bowl

Size 4 inches by 5 inches

Hopi Potter

First Mesa, Polacca, AZ


This bowl features a ring around the top with waves and clouds. The opening in the ring is to allow the negative energy to escape

Barbara Polacca was raised to be a Hopi women in the Hopi tradition.She has deep faithand is devoted to her family.Married to Donald Maha, they have2 children and 3 Grandchildren.She is a professional cook at the First Mesa Elementary School.


Barbara\'s interest in pottery making began in her 20\'s.She observed and watched her Grandmother, Vivian Mumvewa make beautiful traditional Hopi pottery.Her Grandmother was taught by her Grandparents in traditional Hopi Pottery methods.


The clay for the pottery is collected from the side of the Mesa below her villages.It is dried and cleaned and worked to the right consistency, then is stored in flour sacks and laid on the desert sand to draw the water out of the clay.


Her pottery is made through the coil method.Smooth gourds are used to form the shape of the pottery.Then smooth rocks are used to sand the finish smooth.Natural dyes made from plant and minerals found on the reservation are used for the colors. Designs are painted on the pot with fine brushed made from Yucca plant leaves.Her traditional Hopi designs represent rain,clouds and the 4 directions.Each completed pot is fired with sheep dung in an open pit fire for several hours, then allowed to cool.

Each item is signed by the artist.


About our Pottery,

Many hours of preparation go in to making each individual pottery piece. Each piece is uniqueand is made out of natural clays and pigments from the Hopi lands. This is a time honored tradition handed down through the generations.

The clay for the pottery is collected from different areas around the Hopi Nation. White clays and varying shades of red to pink are commonly collected. There is also a rich dark red clay from the Wingate formation. It takes up to several weeks to prepare the clay and get it to the right consistency for making the finest pottery.


When the clay is just right, the artist will make clay coils to form the shape of the pottery. The artist\'s often tell me that they become inspired handling the clay and only then do they know how to create the piece. The pottery is allowed to rest and harden. Smooth rocks are then used to finish and refine the surfaces of the pottery. This is done several times using different rocks until the surface is smooth and glossy and ready for painting.


Natural Dyes and pigments are used to make the dark lines on each piece. The Hopi harvest a dark green plant with yellow flowers. They boil the leaves until it becomes a thick syrup which is then cooled and poured into corn husks. It is placed outside in the sun until it hardens into a \"rock\". The \"black dye\" rocks are collected and stored until needed. To use, the artist chips off pieces of the rock into their grinding stone. A small amount of water is added to the crushed dye to achieve the right consistency for the pottery paint. When fired this dye turns dark brown.


Various rocks are collected, crushed and mixed with water to make other black, brown and red dyes. Sometimes several colors are mixed. From black rocks that appear to be a hematite to various colors of sandstones each artist has their special place to collect the plants and rocks they need to make their beautiful pottery.


Paint brushes are made from yucca plant leaves. Individual fibers are separated then chewed to soften. The artists makes their brushes to many different sizes and tips. It takes many hours to design and paint the traditional Hopi symbols and images on each piece.


Pottery is fired in a traditional Hopi fire pit surrounded by pottery shards to protect it during the firing process. Sheep dung and sometimes firewood is placed around the pottery and then lit. It takes several hours for the fire to burn down and the pottery to cool. There is alway excitement to see how well the pottery fired. The fired pottery is removed, cleaned and blessed and is ready for use in the home or for your enjoyment.


Our gifts are inspired by love and created by talented Artisans who express sacred beauty thru their art. Your purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity and helps to support a Native American Family.



Native American- Hopi pottery spirit bowl by artist Barbara Polacca #BP527:
$55.00

Buy Now