Cheeda, Zella

Zella Cheeda (1901-1997) was a Hopi potter from the village of Sichomovi on First Mesa. She was active in the marketplace from about 1950 to 1980. She was also known as “Antelope woman” or “Antelope girl” because she signed her pottery with an antelope hallmark.

Zella was most known for her redware. She made bowls, jars lidded jars, cylinders and vases. She decorated them usually with either just black or with black and white mineral paints. Her favorite designs seem to have been based on Sikyátki-Revival designs and bold geometrics.

One of Zella’s jars is in the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian. Documentation said it was purchased at Hopi in 1963 and later donated to the museum. The Museum of Northern Arizona has at least one bowl and one jar made by Zella. The Heard Museum’s Native American Artist Resource Collection Online database has no entries for Zella.