TOPotteryAngeaFamily

The well-known Angea family potters all started when Joe Angea of South Hickiwan married Felistia from Kaka (Quail) Village. Felistia learned pottery making from her mother, Constance. When Felistia moved to South Hickiwan she continued her pottery making using the local white clay.

Joe used to paint the pots for her, usually using animal designs such as javelina and deer. After Joe went blind and Felistia's eyesight began to fail, she began to make red ollas. Joe and Felistia both passed away in 1987.

During Joe and Felistias time together they had ten children, Felistia taught pottery making to several of them. Rupert, who was taught to make pottery when he was twelve, is the only male in the family that makes pottery on a regular bases, although his brother, James was known to create effigy vessels occassionally. Four sisters also became potters. Juanita, who's married name is Antone moved the village of Gu Vo in 1970, but returns to South Hickiwan to gather her clay. Gladys, who also taught her daughters: Elilah & Renee. Elilah began making pottery when she was five.

Unfortunately not all "Angea" pots are made by the Angea family. As the potters began to become famous, neighbors started copying the Angea "friendship" pots from the same clay source and fake the Angea signatures. Fake Angea pots can be recognized by painted heads that are too round and dresses that do not touch the ground. The fakes are also made with black acrylic paint which is blacker and shinier than the mesquite bark paint that the Angea Family uses.

The Angea's take pride in pottery making as a family tradition. At this time, most potters sign "Angea" to their creations giving credit to the family name as a whole versus the individual potter. If you collect Tohono O'Odham pottery and would like a representative piece from each potter it is suggested that at this time you look at the potters painted signature strokes in "Angea" to distinguish individuals. As you can see by these two examples:

We do not know all the present potters of the Angea family, however those that are known are included below. Few potters have signed with makers initials, those works can be viewed on the individual potter's page (click on the links below:

Elilah Angea

Gladys Angea

James Angea

Juanita Angea Antone

Joe & Felistia Angea

Renee Angea

Rupert Angea

The following vessels are signed "Angea":

1. Tohono O'Odham Angel Effigy (2007)

2. Tohono O'Odham Friendship Vase

3. Tohono O'Odham Quail Family

4. Tohono O'Odham Jar with Kokopellis, feather, and thunderbird designs.

5. Tohono O'Odham Jar with turtles, man-in-the-maze, saguaro, & mountain designs.

6. Tohono O'Odham shallow bowl with man-in-the-maze design.

7. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Quail Effigy with geometric wing designs.

8. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Human Effigy

9. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Quail Effigy Signed Angea

Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/4" by 4 1/2" by 4 3/8"

10. Tohono O'Odham Black-on-Slipped Orange Miniature Vase Signed Angea

Approximate Dimensions: 2" by 1 3/4"

11. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Bowl with Geometric & Desert Scenery, Quail, Prickly Pear Cactus, and Man-in-the-Maize Designs done in Paint, Cut-out, and Appliqued Techniques.

Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/8" by 4"

12. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Bowl with Geometric, Quail, Saguaro Cactus, and Man-in-the-Maize Designs done in Paint, Cut-out, and Appliqued Techniques.

Approximate Dimensions: 4 3/8" by 3 7/8"

References:

R.G. Munn Auction, LLC; October 2007

(Lot # 135 - Friendship Bowl - 6" by 6 1/2")

Anthropology of the Americas MASTERKEY Spring 1988

This page last revised: 11/21/2008

We welcome your linking to our pages, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of the www.rarepottery.info. Permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files.

WWW.RAREPOTTERY.INFO TOHONO O'ODHAM ANGEA FAMILY


	Return to Tohono O'Odham Pottery
	The well-known Angea family potters all started when Joe Angea of South Hickiwan married Felistia from Kaka (Quail) Village. Felistia learned pottery making from her mother, Constance. When Felistia moved to South Hickiwan she continued her pottery making using the local white clay. Joe used to paint the pots for her, usually using animal designs such as javelina and deer. After Joe went blind and Felistia's eyesight began to fail, she began to make red ollas. Joe and Felistia both passed away in 1987. During Joe and Felistias time together they had ten children, Felistia taught pottery making to several of them. Rupert, who was taught to make pottery when he was twelve, is the only male in the family that makes pottery on a regular bases, although his brother, James was known to create effigy vessels occassionally. Four sisters also became potters. Juanita, who's married name is Antone moved the village of Gu Vo in 1970, but returns to South Hickiwan to gather her clay. Gladys, who also taught her daughters: Elilah & Renee. Elilah began making pottery when she was five. Unfortunately not all "Angea" pots are made by the Angea family. As the potters began to become famous, neighbors started copying the Angea "friendship" pots from the same clay source and fake the Angea signatures. Fake Angea pots can be recognized by painted heads that are too round and dresses that do not touch the ground. The fakes are also made with black acrylic paint which is blacker and shinier than the mesquite bark paint that the Angea Family uses. The Angea's take pride in pottery making as a family tradition. At this time, most potters sign "Angea" to their creations giving credit to the family name as a whole versus the individual potter. If you collect Tohono O'Odham pottery and would like a representative piece from each potter it is suggested that at this time you look at the potters painted signature strokes in "Angea" to distinguish individuals. As you can see by these two examples: We do not know all the present potters of the Angea family, however those that are known are included below. Few potters have signed with makers initials, those works can be viewed on the individual potter's page (click on the links below: Elilah Angea Gladys Angea James Angea Juanita Angea Antone Joe & Felistia Angea Renee Angea Rupert Angea The following vessels are signed "Angea": 1. Tohono O'Odham Angel Effigy (2007) 2. Tohono O'Odham Friendship Vase 3. Tohono O'Odham Quail Family 4. Tohono O'Odham Jar with Kokopellis, feather, and thunderbird designs. 5. Tohono O'Odham Jar with turtles, man-in-the-maze, saguaro, & mountain designs. 6. Tohono O'Odham shallow bowl with man-in-the-maze design. 7. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Quail Effigy with geometric wing designs. 8. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Human Effigy 9. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Quail Effigy Signed Angea Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/4" by 4 1/2" by 4 3/8" 10. Tohono O'Odham Black-on-Slipped Orange Miniature Vase Signed Angea Approximate Dimensions: 2" by 1 3/4" 11. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Bowl with Geometric & Desert Scenery, Quail, Prickly Pear Cactus, and Man-in-the-Maize Designs done in Paint, Cut-out, and Appliqued Techniques. Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/8" by 4" 12. Tohono O'Odham Polychrome Bowl with Geometric, Quail, Saguaro Cactus, and Man-in-the-Maize Designs done in Paint, Cut-out, and Appliqued Techniques. Approximate Dimensions: 4 3/8" by 3 7/8" References: R.G. Munn Auction, LLC; October 2007 (Lot # 135 - Friendship Bowl - 6" by 6 1/2") Anthropology of the Americas MASTERKEY Spring 1988 This page last revised: 11/21/2008 Copyright 2007, 2008 All rights reserved We welcome your linking to our pages, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of the www.rarepottery.info. Permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files.