Rare Vintage Elda Smith Six Nations Mohawk Pottery

Rare Vintage Elda Smith "Flint & Feather" Six Nations Mohawk Pottery Vase Up for sale is an exceptional, investment-grade piece of Canadian Indigenous art history. This authentic mid-century pottery vase was handcrafted by Elda Muriel "Bun" Smith (1919–1976), widely celebrated as the founding matriarch of contemporary Six Nations studio pottery. This historic vessel beautifully displays her signature deeply-incised sgraffito geometric design across a burnished brown earthenware slip. The earthy, textured exterior is striking juxtaposed against a smooth, glossy pale sage green glazed interior. The piece is finished with an elegant, flawless scalloped "pie-crust" rim. Authentication & Markings The base is fully backstamped and authenticated with: The classic incised "Flint & Feather" arrowhead and feather logo containing "SN" (Six Nations). Her distinct, hand-etched initials "E M S" (Elda Muriel Smith). Condition Report Excellent vintage condition with no major chips, cracks, structural fractures, or restorations. The delicate scalloped rim is completely intact. Displays sharp, crisp incision lines with only minor, expected surface shelf wear on the unglazed base consistent with age. About the Artist: Elda Muriel Smith (1919–1976) Elda Smith was a Mohawk artist from the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve in Ontario. In the early 1960s, she single-handedly catalyzed a massive ceramic renaissance. Recognizing that traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) pottery techniques had been largely lost over centuries, she studied ancestral archaeological shards and revived the ancient geometric styling into contemporary pottery forms. Alongside fellow local artisans, she established the famous "Flint & Feather" studio. Because she passed away in 1976, her production window was relatively short. Today, her works are highly sought after by serious collectors and are held in prestigious permanent collections, including the Canadian Museum of History and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Nearest intersection Yonge Street and Steeles Avenue