Rachel Sahmie Nampeyo

Hopi

Great-great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and great-granddaughter of Annie Healing Nampeyo, Rachel Sahmie Nampeyo learned her pottery making skills from her mother, Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo. Among Rachel's siblings are Jean Sahmie, Nyla Sahmie, Finkle Sahmie and Bonnie Chapella, all potters. Their three brothers are all kachina carvers.

Rachel has been producing pottery since 1970. She specializes in red-on-white body and black-and-red on yellow-body and black-body ceramics. She primarily uses the traditional styles and designs of her great-great-gandmother Nampeyo. She has also produced some Ancestral Puebloan-style corrugated pottery. She also likes to make tiles, ladles, parrot effigies, cylinders and historic recreations.

Learning Path

Black geometric design inside and out on a yellow ware bowl

Yellow ware bowl decorated with a black geometric design inside and out
6.25 in H by 10 in Dia

Bird element and geometric design on a polychrome bowl with fire clouds

Polychrome bowl decorated with a bird element and geometric design plus fire clouds
1.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia

Bird element and geometric design inside and out on a polychrome red ware bowl

Polychrome red ware bowl decorated with a bird element and geometric design inside and out
1.75 in H by 4.75 in Dia

4-panel moth and geometric design on a miniature polychrome jar

A miniature polychrme jar decorated with a 4-panel moth and geometric design
2.75 in H by 2.25 in Dia

Bird element design on a polychrome wedding vase

Polychrome wedding vase with bird element design
10.75 in H by 6 in Dia

Bat wing and geometric design on a miniature polychrome jar

A miniature polychrome jar decorated with a bat wing and geometric design
1.5 in H by 2.75 in Dia

Bird element and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a bird element and geometric design
3.25 in H by 5.5 in Dia

A bird element and geometric design on a miniature polychrome jar

A miniature polychrome jar decorated with a bird element and geometric design
3 in H by 2 in Dia

Pahlik Mana, bird element and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Yellow ware polychrome jar decorated with a Pahlik Mana, bird element and geometric design
13.5 in H by 10.5 in Dia

Thunderbird design on the inside of a polychrome bowl

A polychrome bowl decorated inside with a thiunderbird and geometric design
6 in Dia by 1.5 in H

A 4-panel katsina and geometric design on a polychrome jar

Polychrome jar decorated with a 4-panel katsina and geometric design
10 in H by 13.5 in Dia

Hopi Potters

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Rachel Sahmie Nampeyo

Hopi

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