Shapes and Forms: Cylinders

Corn, cotton and water design on a polychrome umbrella stand
Polychrome umbrella stand by Thomas Tenorio, Santo Domingo
17.75 in H by 12.5 in Dia
Rope biyo' around the neck of a tall brown jar
Typical large brown cylinder-type jar by Rose Williams, Navajo
16 in H by 11.75 in Dia
Bird element design on a polychrome yellow ware cylinder
Cylinder by Rachel Sahmie
Hopi-Tewa

4.25 in H by 2.5 in Dia
Palhik Mana and geometric design on a polychrome yellow ware cylinder
Cylinder by Jean Sahme
Hopi-Tewa

11.75 in H by 5.5 in Dia

Most cylinders I have seen come from Hopi-Tewa potters. It's a form they have used for more than 100 years, possibly derived from their interpretions of ancient Sikyatki and Awatovi shapes. Some Santo Domingo potters used to produce umbrella stands for the tourist trade that were similar to today's Hopi cylinders. The form has been revived by potters like Robert, Thomas and Franklin Tenorio.

Rose Williams was famous for her large, brown cylindrical pots, many of which have been used to make drums. Diego Valles of Mata Ortiz has also produced some pure cylinders (most Puebloan cylinders have bottoms while Diego's don't: they are thin-walled, beautifully carved and exquisitely painted tubes).

Pueblo design carved into a beige sculptural cylinder
Beige sculptural cylinder by Al Qoyawayma, Hopi
12.75 in H by 8.25 in Dia
Black micaceous cylinder
Black micaceous cylinder by Robert Vigil, Nambe
8.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Lightly carved, sgraffito and painted geometric design on a black on black on black cylinder
Black on black on black cylinder with lightly carved, sgraffito and painted geometric design by Diego Valles, Mata Ortiz
12.5 in H by 6.25 in Dia
Sgraffito and painted butterfly and fine line geometric design on a polychrome cylinder
Polychrome cylinder with a sgraffito and painted butterfly and fine line geometric design by Jesus Trevizo, Mata Ortiz
12.75 in H by 6 in Dia

Shapes and Forms