Folk Art - North America - Navajo Pottery, Ceramics, Textiles

Rita Manygoats

Horned Toad 

Wedding Vase

SOLD

 dimensions:

approx 6 1/2"tall x 3 1/2" wide

Lovely wedding vase with the Manygoats' signature horned toad on the front along with a wheat design (or something similar) on the back.

Very Good Condition.  No chips or cracks. 

Signed "R. Manygoats" - Navajo

Rita Manygoats is the daughter of Betty Manygoats (who began the theme of the horned toad). Rita has become a most talented potter as well and hand builds and fires her pieces by the traditional Navajo methods. She was taught by her mother but she has developed her own unique style of pottery. Her pots often feature appliquéd effigies of the horned toad and ears of corn, as well as lifestyle pictures. Her work is signed "RM"or "R. Manygoats" in a cursive signature style.

Betty Manygoats learned how to pot from her mother, Zonie Barlow as well as other members of the family. Her first pots were rather undistinguished but when she began her horned toad design, she had something special. She has won many awards for her work at multiple different contests including the annual Navajo exhibitions. 

Betty Manygoats uses Navajo clay from Black Mesa to create her works of art, dries them in the sun, and then they are placed in an open-pit kiln and covered with cow dung. Cedar is the preferred fuel for the kiln and wherever the wood ash has contact with the clay a brownish gray discoloration results. This discoloration is known as "fire clouds". Once the piece is fired, warm pinon pitch is applied to the piece making it water tight and ready for use.

for inquiries email info@galwest.com