T. Vail Jr. Navajo Horsehair Pottery Kokopelli – Signed, Turquoise Inlay

A visually striking horsehair pottery sculpture of Kokopelli, signed T. Vail Jr., a member of the well-known Navajo Vail family of potters. Crafted using the traditional horsehair firing technique, this piece features intricate hand-etched designs, turquoise cabochons on both sides, and white stepped motif inlays across the figure’s form. The base is marked with both the artist’s signature and the mold stamp BJ©95.

Kokopelli, a prominent figure in Southwestern Native American iconography, is widely associated with fertility, music, and joy. This sculpture presents the deity in stylized profile, with a dramatic feathered headdress and bent knee stance, carved into a mold-cast form and finished by hand. The organic veining created during the horsehair firing process gives the surface its unique marbled appearance.

Tom Vail Jr. is known for combining slip-cast ceramic forms with hand-applied decoration, honoring tradition while producing highly individualized works. His family’s pottery is widely collected and recognized across the Southwest for its fusion of contemporary and cultural styles.

Condition:
In good condition overall. Displays scuffing, minor wear, and a ½-inch chip to the base (rear edge). No structural cracks; stable and display-ready.

Dimensions:
13" H x 7.5" W x 3" D
Campbell’s soup can shown for scale in photo.