Mohave Teacup Pottery

ca. 1910

1.75" H x 3" D

Small Redware Clay Tea Cup with Handle and Painted Geometric Designs

In Very Good Condition

Mohave pottery, created by the Mohave people (also spelled Mojave, meaning "people who live along the river" in their language, Aha Makave), is a traditional Native American art form originating from the banks of the Colorado River in southern California and Arizona. While the term "teacup" isn't a standard anthropological category, it likely refers to small, handled ceramic cups or vessels that resemble teacups—often utilitarian or decorative items adapted for the early 20th-century tourist trade. These pieces blend ancient techniques with innovative designs, including human or animal effigies, and were commonly sold to travelers at train stations like Needles, California.

Provenance:  From the Len and Toni Wood Private Collection, Laguna Beach, California