Navajo Pottery
A coating of a combination of piñon and pine pitch is used on Navajo pottery, which makes it distinct from other pueblo and Southwestern pottery. This pitch was traditionally used to seal the pots for carrying water and food. The application technique of the pitch affects the color, which ranges from dark brown to golden brown. A pitch pot is made by dipping a rag-covered stick into boiling pine pitch and painting this pitch all over the pot so that it holds water and has a lovely glossy finish. Some pottery shapes are covered with deerhide for use by medicine men as drums in healing ceremonies. Navajo potters also use the coil method, and sometimes the coils are left visible. |  | |
Jerome Begay and Melissa Johnson are a young Navajo couple that have teamed up to create this beautiful pine pitch technique pottery. They call their signature style "Monument Valley Swirl". This wedding vase has the swirl and an added twisted handle.
Recently deceased Elizabeth Abeyta, is the sister of well known artist Tony and Narcisco Abeyta. She is a self taught and award winning artist, that uses clay and lava rock to create her sculpturees. Her work is generally native figures like Mudheads and Koshare.She was born in to the Navajo tribe. Elizabeth is also known as "Nah-Glee-Eh-Bah". Shown is a Rain Fetish. This mixed media clay sculpture measures 9" tall. The sculpture is hand painted and decorated with feathers, leather and turquoise. It is signed Nah-Glee-eh-bah rain fetish and dated '88.
