NAMPEYO - Hopi Potter

NAMPEYO - Hopi Potter

Nampeyo, the best potter of her time, helped revitalize the original form of Hopi pottery, Sikyatki. She developed her style from the traditional bowls, pots, jars, and water carriers of the Tewa and Walpi people, which were the tribes of her parents. Although, Hopi pottery had survived through many generations, it was beginning to disappear during Nampeyo's youth. Nampeyo was credited for bringing the dying form of Sikyatki pottery back to life. She helped rekindle the interest of Hopi pottery into the lives of the consumer and her contemporaries.

At the time of Nampeyo's birth, Hopi pottery was indebted to the styles and designs of the Zuni people. The exact year or date of Nampeyo's birth is unknown, but thought to be between 1856 and 1860. In Hopi custom, the father's mother, grandmother names the baby. So, Nampeyo was originally named Tcu-mana or Snake Girl, but the Tewa people call her Nampeyo, which she is known as today. Nampeyo and Tcu-mana are identical in meaning. She had three brothers leaving her the only girl in her family. One of Nampeyo's brothers, Tom Polocca, would later play an influential role in helping her become discovered as an expert Hopi potter.

It is unclear how and from who Nampeyo first learned the art of pottery. Two books on Nampeyo's pottery, Kramer's book Nampeyo and her pottery and Collins' book Nampeyo, Hopi Potter, had different beliefs on who introduced Nampeyo to pottery making. Collins' book says that Nampeyo learned the art of pottery from her grandmother. It goes on to say that when Nampeyo was younger she often went with her father to her grandmother's house where she sat and watched her make pottery until she was old enough to try it on her own. This would not be unlikely because the father still was a big part of his original family and village and visited there often, since he now lives with his wife's family. In Kramer's book, it is said that Nampeyo spent much time with her mother, from whom she learned the art of pottery making. At this time the Tewa people were the best known potters of the Hopi area. During her younger years she was only allowed to watch, but as she grew older her mother began letting her make pots on her own.