Pot with Figurative Decoration

Faye Tso, Pot with Figurative Decoration, ca. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.178
Faye Tso, Pot with Figurative Decoration, ca. 1992, fired clay with piñon pitch, 20 5815 58 in. (52.439.7 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.178

Artwork Details

Title
Pot with Figurative Decoration
Artist
Date
ca. 1992
Dimensions
20 5815 58 in. (52.439.7 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums Description
fired clay with piñon pitch
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group — male
  • Indian — Navajo
  • Dress — Indian dress
Object Number
1997.124.178

Artwork Description

Faye Tso decorates many of her pieces with Ye’i (deity figures), corn maidens, and ceremonial scenes to express Navajo beliefs and rituals. She experiments with different clay slips, and often applies the dung of sheep, goats, and cattle to the clay during the firing process (Chuck and Jan Rosenak, The People Speak: Navajo Folk Art, 1994). This changes the color of the clay from a golden orange to a deep brown or black.

Works by this artist (11 items)

Richard Mock, Untitled (If This Is November, It Must Be July 4th), from the portfolio Mock of the Times, 1983, printed 1986, linocut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1987.74.3, © 1983, Richard Basil Mock
Untitled (If This Is November, It Must Be July 4th), from…
Date1983, printed 1986
linocut on paper
Not on view
Gregory Amenoff, Chamber, 1985, color woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1991.94.2, © 1985, Gregory Amenoff
Chamber
Date1985
color woodcut on paper
Not on view
Sean Scully, Block, 1986, woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2001.79.15, © 1986, Sean Scully
Block
Date1986
woodcut on paper
Not on view
Sean Scully, Standing 1, 1986, woodcut on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2001.79.13, © 1986, Sean Scully
Standing 1
Date1986
woodcut on paper
Not on view