Fannie Nampeyo
Encyclopedia
Fannie Nampeyo (also known as Fannie Lesou Polacca and Fannie Nampeyo Polacca) was a modern and contemporary fine arts potter
, who carried on the traditions of her famous mother, Nampeyo
of Hano, the grand matriarch of modern Hopi pottery.
Fannie was the youngest, and perhaps the most famous, of Nampeyo
of Hano's three daughters. She was born in the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan home atop First Mesa
, on the Hopi Reservation
in Arizona
. Fannie was initially given the name Popongua or Popong-Mana (meaning "Picking Pinon
s") by the older women of her father Lesou's family, and either missionaries or health-care workers later gave her the name "Fannie."
In the early 1920s she married Vinton Polacca and shortly thereafter, pottery making became an important part of Fannie’s life. She increasingly worked with her mother Nampeyo, whose eyesight was diminishing due to trachoma
. Fannie helped her mother with pottery painting and decorating, and also assisted her father with polishing. Early works created by Fannie and her mother were signed simply "Nampeyo" by Fannie, since Nampeyo could not read or write, but later they began signing pieces made together as "Nampeyo Fannie." Pieces made solely by Fannie were signed "Fannie Nampeyo" and usually included a drawn corn symbol.
Fannie was a prolific potter from 1920–1987 and earned a reputation as an outstanding potter during her lifetime. Her styles included black and red on yellow and black on yellow in the form of jars, cups and saucers. She also made miniatures and bird effigy bowls. Among her favorite designs were clouds, rain, feathers, stars and migrations motifs. In addition to making pottery she also made quilts.
Fannie's pottery won a first place blue ribbon in the "Hopi Show" at the Museum of Northern Arizona
in July 1961, and her works have been included in collects by the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Fannie became matriarch of the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan, as her mother Nampeyo had been before her. "Nampeyo" is actually the ceremonial title used by the matriarch of the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan. Fannie and her husband Vinton were among one of the first families at First Mesa to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All seven of Fannies’s children (Thomas Polacca, Elva Nampeyo
, Tonita, Iris Youvella, Leah, Harold and Elsworth) excelled at pottery making, which they learned from their mother, and several have become known in their own right among collectors of Native American pottery.
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
, who carried on the traditions of her famous mother, Nampeyo
Nampeyo
Iris Nampeyo was a Hopi potter who lived on the Hopi Reservation in present-day Arizona. She received the English name Iris as an infant, but was better known by her Tewa name, Num-pa-yu, meaning "snake that does not bite"....
of Hano, the grand matriarch of modern Hopi pottery.
Fannie was the youngest, and perhaps the most famous, of Nampeyo
Nampeyo
Iris Nampeyo was a Hopi potter who lived on the Hopi Reservation in present-day Arizona. She received the English name Iris as an infant, but was better known by her Tewa name, Num-pa-yu, meaning "snake that does not bite"....
of Hano's three daughters. She was born in the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan home atop First Mesa
First Mesa, Arizona
First Mesa is a census-designated place in Navajo County, Arizona, United States, on the Hopi Reservation. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 1,124, spread among three Hopi and Arizona Tewa villages atop the 5,700-foot mesa: Hano , Sitsomovi , and Waalpi .-Geography:First Mesa...
, on the Hopi Reservation
Hopi Reservation
The Hopi Reservation, or simply Hopi, is a Native American reservation for the Hopi and Arizona Tewa people, surrounded entirely by the Navajo Nation, in Navajo and Coconino counties of Arizona, USA. The site in north-eastern Arizona has a land area of 2,531.773 sq mi and as of the 2000 census had...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Fannie was initially given the name Popongua or Popong-Mana (meaning "Picking Pinon
Piñon
Piñon may refer to:* Pinyon pine * Pinon Airplant, Tillandsia excelsa-Places:* Piñon, Arizona, United States* Piñon, New Mexico, United States* Pinon, Aisne, a commune of the Aisne department in France...
s") by the older women of her father Lesou's family, and either missionaries or health-care workers later gave her the name "Fannie."
In the early 1920s she married Vinton Polacca and shortly thereafter, pottery making became an important part of Fannie’s life. She increasingly worked with her mother Nampeyo, whose eyesight was diminishing due to trachoma
Trachoma
Trachoma is an infectious disease causing a characteristic roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Also called granular conjunctivitis and Egyptian ophthalmia, it is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world...
. Fannie helped her mother with pottery painting and decorating, and also assisted her father with polishing. Early works created by Fannie and her mother were signed simply "Nampeyo" by Fannie, since Nampeyo could not read or write, but later they began signing pieces made together as "Nampeyo Fannie." Pieces made solely by Fannie were signed "Fannie Nampeyo" and usually included a drawn corn symbol.
Fannie was a prolific potter from 1920–1987 and earned a reputation as an outstanding potter during her lifetime. Her styles included black and red on yellow and black on yellow in the form of jars, cups and saucers. She also made miniatures and bird effigy bowls. Among her favorite designs were clouds, rain, feathers, stars and migrations motifs. In addition to making pottery she also made quilts.
Fannie's pottery won a first place blue ribbon in the "Hopi Show" at the Museum of Northern Arizona
Museum of Northern Arizona
The Museum of Northern Arizona is a museum in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA, that was established as a repository for Native American artifacts and natural history specimens from the Colorado Plateau.The museum was founded in 1928 by zoologist Dr. Harold S...
in July 1961, and her works have been included in collects by the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Fannie became matriarch of the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan, as her mother Nampeyo had been before her. "Nampeyo" is actually the ceremonial title used by the matriarch of the Hopi-Tewa Corn Clan. Fannie and her husband Vinton were among one of the first families at First Mesa to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All seven of Fannies’s children (Thomas Polacca, Elva Nampeyo
Elva Nampeyo
Elva Nampeyo was an American studio potter. She was born in the Corn Clan house where her grandmother Nampeyo resided, atop Hopi First Mesa. She was the daughter of Fannie Nampeyo and Vinton Polacca. As a child Elva would watch her grandmother make pottery and play with the clay...
, Tonita, Iris Youvella, Leah, Harold and Elsworth) excelled at pottery making, which they learned from their mother, and several have become known in their own right among collectors of Native American pottery.
Further reading
- AskART.com Inc., Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson (Editor) - The Artists Bluebook. 2005
- Mary Ellen and Lawrence Blair - The Legacy of Master Potter Nampeyo and Her Descendants. 1999.
- Schaaf, Gregory - Hopi-Tewa Pottery: 500 Artist Biographies. 1998.