Mid/Late 20th Century
7.25" H x 8.5" D + Lid 2" H Nob .75" H x 1.25" D
Buff and Peach Colored Clay with Hand Painted Geometric Eagle Design with Lid
In Very Good Condition with Very Light Wear
Sadie Adams (1905–1995) was a celebrated Hopi-Tewa potter from the village of Hano at First Mesa on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona. Belonging to the Kachina and Parrot Clans, she was known by her Hopi name, "Flower Woman" (or "Flower Girl"), which inspired her signature hallmark: a stylized five-petal peach blossom, often dotted in the center or on each petal. nAdams began her pottery career around 1930 and continued until 1981, producing a wide variety of functional and decorative pieces, including jars, bowls, plates, lamps, tiles, and cookie jars. nFollowing her husband Wilbur's death in 1937, she single-handedly supported her family—including funding her daughter Lorna Lomakema's nursing education—through pottery sales on the reservation.
Her work is characterized by traditional Hopi-Tewa techniques: nhand-coiling from local clay, applying a white slip, and firing in outdoor pits for an earthy, polychrome finish.n Adams' pieces often feature intricate geometric patterns, birds, thunderbirds, and symbolic motifs reflecting Hopi cosmology, with a focus on balance and harmony. nShe was versatile, collaborating with her daughter on tiles while excelling in larger forms. nToday, her pottery is highly sought by collectors for its durability, subtle aging (e.g., mellowing slips turning gray), and cultural significance.n Exhibitions like those at the Museum of Northern Arizona in the 1930s helped elevate Hopi pottery standards, influencing artists like Adams.
Provenance: From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California
Condition:
Very Good
Tribe:
Hopi
Year Range:
1950 - 1975
Region:
Southwest
Dimensions:
7.25 in8.5 in2 in0.75 in1.25 in
Category:
Pottery Bowls and Jars Post 1940
