Tohono O'odham (Popago) Pottery I'itoi Design Canteen, Ca 1972, #946 SOLD
$ 1,200.00
Description: Native American, Tohono O'Odham (Papago); Artist: Sally Havier; Type of Item: Canteen with a I'itoi design; Material: Red pottery; Signature: On tag; Era or Year Produced: 1972;
Dimensions: Approximate Measurement: 7.5" x 7.5" x 3.75"; Approximate Weight: 2 lbs; Note:
Provenance: From the collection of a pottery judge used multiple times for judging pottery classification by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The Canteen took second place at the 1972 Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup New Mexico. The original ribbon and cataloging tag is attached to the piece.
Condition: Excellent for its age.
Some background on the Tohono O’odham and the I'itoi design:
The Tohono O’odham (/toʊˈhɑːnə ˈɑːtʊm/, or /tɑːˈhoʊnə ˈɑːtəm/)[2] are a group of Native Americans who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of eastern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. "Tohono O’odham" means "Desert People". The governmental entity for the tribe is the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Although the Tohono O’odham were previously known as the Papago, (meaning "tepary-bean eater"), they have largely rejected this name. It was applied to them by conquistadores who had heard them called this by other Piman bands that were very competitive with the Tohono O’odham. The term Papago derives from Ba:bawĭkoʼa, meaning "eating tepary beans." That word was pronounced papago by the Spanish.
The Tohono O'odham Nation, or Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, is located in southern Arizona, encompassing portions of Pima County, Pinal County, and Maricopa County. (source Wikipedia)
Legend of I'itoi
Many different translations are found for I'itoi. One starts before human time, a figure somtimes called First Born miraculously appeared. First Born finished creating the earth, sun, moon, and sky. When the sky and earth met, I'itoi (pronounced e-e-toy) came into being. I'itoi created people out of clay, gave them evening skies, and told them not to leave their land. I'itoi, often called Elder Brother, has always lived in a cave near the summit of Waw Kiwalik (Baboquivari Peak). The maze is a map of I'itoi's cave.
Another story of I'itoi comes straight from the Tohono O'odham Nation and off of a card sold with baskets and pottery that contain the Man in the Maze, it goes like this: "I'itoi, Man in the Maze, The man at the top of the maze depicts birth. By following the white pattern, beginning at the top, the figure goes throught the maze encountering many turns and changes, as in life. As the journey continues, one acquires knowledge, strength, and understanding. Nearing the end of the maze, one retreats to a small corner of the pattern before reaching the dark center of death and eternal life. Here one repents, cleanses, and reflects back on all the wisdom gained. Finally, pura and in harmony with the world, death and eternal life are accepted. (Source, rare pottery.com)
Dimensions: Approximate Measurement: 7.5" x 7.5" x 3.75"; Approximate Weight: 2 lbs; Note:
Provenance: From the collection of a pottery judge used multiple times for judging pottery classification by the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. The Canteen took second place at the 1972 Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial in Gallup New Mexico. The original ribbon and cataloging tag is attached to the piece.
Condition: Excellent for its age.
Some background on the Tohono O’odham and the I'itoi design:
The Tohono O’odham (/toʊˈhɑːnə ˈɑːtʊm/, or /tɑːˈhoʊnə ˈɑːtəm/)[2] are a group of Native Americans who reside primarily in the Sonoran Desert of eastern Arizona and northwestern Mexico. "Tohono O’odham" means "Desert People". The governmental entity for the tribe is the Tohono O'odham Nation.
Although the Tohono O’odham were previously known as the Papago, (meaning "tepary-bean eater"), they have largely rejected this name. It was applied to them by conquistadores who had heard them called this by other Piman bands that were very competitive with the Tohono O’odham. The term Papago derives from Ba:bawĭkoʼa, meaning "eating tepary beans." That word was pronounced papago by the Spanish.
The Tohono O'odham Nation, or Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, is located in southern Arizona, encompassing portions of Pima County, Pinal County, and Maricopa County. (source Wikipedia)
Legend of I'itoi
Many different translations are found for I'itoi. One starts before human time, a figure somtimes called First Born miraculously appeared. First Born finished creating the earth, sun, moon, and sky. When the sky and earth met, I'itoi (pronounced e-e-toy) came into being. I'itoi created people out of clay, gave them evening skies, and told them not to leave their land. I'itoi, often called Elder Brother, has always lived in a cave near the summit of Waw Kiwalik (Baboquivari Peak). The maze is a map of I'itoi's cave.
Another story of I'itoi comes straight from the Tohono O'odham Nation and off of a card sold with baskets and pottery that contain the Man in the Maze, it goes like this: "I'itoi, Man in the Maze, The man at the top of the maze depicts birth. By following the white pattern, beginning at the top, the figure goes throught the maze encountering many turns and changes, as in life. As the journey continues, one acquires knowledge, strength, and understanding. Nearing the end of the maze, one retreats to a small corner of the pattern before reaching the dark center of death and eternal life. Here one repents, cleanses, and reflects back on all the wisdom gained. Finally, pura and in harmony with the world, death and eternal life are accepted. (Source, rare pottery.com)
