Delmar Polacca, Hopi-Tewa Hand Carved Corn Egg Pot

Hopi-Tewa artist Delmar Polacca has hand carved this beautiful Corn Egg Pot.  
Corn was of critical importance to the Hopi, just as it was for the other southwest peoples.  In an area where food was often scarce, corn provided a relatively stable food supply with important nutritional value.  
The Hopi believe that they received corn from the vegetation deity.  The spirts of rain and fertility are believed to carry corn which they sprinkle before them as they walk though the skies so to form a road.
The corn has great importance in everyday life and in ceremonial life.  Sacred cornmeal would be spindled over sacred objects and ceremony participants to purify them.  Corn sprinkled across a road prevents an enemy from crossing.  A corn ear provides protection after a birth or a death.

Delmar used his unique techinques to craft this pot and has his hallmark displayed on the bottom of the pot.

Pottery Dimensions:
Height: 3" Inches
Width: 1 1/2" Inches
Around: 5 1/2" Inches
Weight: 1.0oz

Delmar Polacca
Hopi artist Delmar Polacca was born October 25, 1959 into the Hopi/Tewa , Snow Clan and has been an active artist since 1993.  He is the Son of Thomas and Gertrude Polacca; husband of Patricia Polacca; father of Anastasia, Michael. Titian, Danielle, and Danisha.  
Delmar Polacca Specializes in deep carved polychrome jars, seed jars, egg-shaped forms.  He has picked up were his father left off (Tom Polacca passed away in 2003.)  Tom Polacca created this style of Hopi pottery.  It is a unique style that separates itself from the traditional polished, all smooth Hopi Jar.  Instead Delmar hand builds the pot and carves beautiful images and designs.  He then stains the clay to emphasize the carving and it is traditionally fired.

Delmar Polacca has won several awards for his craft.  He placed 3rd, "Hopi Show," Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; 3rd, Mesa Verde Show; Honorable Mention, Invitational," Lawrence, KA.