Ancestors of the Hopi have been making and trading yellowware pottery since the 700s.  By the end of the eighteenth century their pottery making had nearly disappeared due to pressure from other tribes and the Spanish.  It was not until the early nineteenth century that the Hopi revived the art thanks to the influence of the Zuni.  The arrival of the railroad in the 1880s brought traders and further motivated pottery making. 

In 1880, local trader Thomas Keam asked Hopi potters to recreate ancient forms of pottery found in the ruins of Sikyatki—a pueblo found in First Mesa.  By the turn of the century, Nampeyo of Hano had made a name for herself in Hopi pottery by participating in the “Sikyatki Revival” (Hayes, Blom, 66).  Since then, her family along with many others have continued to hand-coil beautiful pieces of art.  We are happy to offer you a small selection of these classic Hopi designs, and hope that at least one catches your eye. (KY)

*For more information see Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni, by Allan Hayes and John Blom.