Hopi Pueblo Bowl Pottery By Ant Woman Marcia Rickey

ca. 1940 – 1950

1.75″ H x 5.875″ D

Hand Coiled from Local Clay and Pit Fired for Earthy Tones and Painted with Mineral Based Slip in Red and Black Geometric Designs with Fire Clouds

In Very Good Condition with One Flake on the Rim and Some Fading

Marcia Rickey, also known as Ant Woman or Marcia Fritz (19181991), was a renowned Hopi Pueblo potter from the village of Walpi on First Mesa in northeastern Arizona. Unlike many potters on the Hopi mesas who are of Tewa descent (often called Hopi-Tewa), Rickey was Hopi by birth. She was active as a potter from approximately 1950 to 1990 and is celebrated for her traditional hand-coiled and pit-fired pottery, which drew inspiration from ancient Sikyatki polychrome styles while incorporating her unique flair for bold designs and forms.

Her hallmarka stylized flying ant etched or painted on the baseearned her the enduring nickname “Ant Woman,” reflecting both her personal symbol and a nod to Hopi cultural motifs tied to nature and clan stories. Several of her pieces are held in prestigious collections, including the Museum of Northern Arizona, highlighting her role in preserving and evolving Hopi ceramic traditions.