Susan Kliewer (American, b. 1940). "Nampeyo" bronze, 2012. Edition 31 of 45. Signed, dated, and numbered on integral bronze base. A magnificent limited edition cast bronze sculpture of Nampeyo, the famous Hopi potter, by Susan Kliewer, one of the Southwest's most acclaimed sculptors. Kliewer presents Nampeyo as she hand builds a ceramic vessel, winding a clay coil upon the rim of the walls of the piece, studying the form as she carefully shapes it. Nampeyo sits upon a woven rug with several other vessels she has created around her. In Kliewer's words, she depicted "Nampeyo as a young married woman working on the pottery designs she would have done at that time in her life." Kliewer captures Nampeyo's poise and elegance; the potter dons a single-shouldered garment, a multi-strand "turquoise" necklace, an inlaid "turquoise" cuff bracelet, and a long tasseled belt woven with decorative motifs around her waist, her long hair gracefully twisted over her back and bare shoulder as she gazes at her work. The finely modeled and colorful patinated details of her clothing and accoutrements as well as the rug and ceramic vessels are quite impressive. What's more, the statue is mounted on a tiered wooden pedestal that rotates so that one may admire it from all angles. Size: 13" W at widestpoint x 13.875" H (33 cm x 35.2 cm); 16.375" H (41.6 cm) on included custom stand.

This piece was acquired from the Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona and was accompanied by the following contextual description, "Without Nampeyo, Hopi pottery may have been only an art form of the past. She started the revival of Hopi pottery, the so-called Sikyatki Revival, using prehistoric and historic Hopi designs. She is credited with the birth of contemporary Hopi pottery, now called Hano Polychrome. She lived from 1860-1942, starting her life's work at 15. Her three daughters and grandchildren have followed in her footsteps making beautiful pottery. I have depicted Nampeyo as a young married woman working on the pottery designs she would have done at that time in her life."

A native of Southern California, Susan Kliewer has lived in Arizona for 40 years, with 5 of those years at the Marble Canyon Trading Post adjacent to the Navajo Reservation in Northern Arizona. Kliewer started painting when she was 10 years old and took up sculpture in 1987 after working at a foundry for 10 years. In 1993, Kliewer won a competition to create a monument of Sedona Schnebly. In addition, she created a life-size fountain that portrays the Sinagua people as well as a fountain of a Hopi Water Maiden in Sedona. In her words, "My work aims to show the common thread that underlies all human experience, and which, I hope, brings us to a greater understanding between peoples."

Provenance: Private Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA collection; ex-Hugh K. Terrell estate, representative Priscilla T. Bisher; purchased at Mountain Trails Galleries, Sedona, Arizona, USA

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#175250

Overall excellent. Signed, dated, and numbered on integral bronze base. Mounted on a tiered wooden pedestal that rotates so that one may admire the sculpture from all angles. Wooden base fit with brass plaque engraved with artist's name and title of piece.