Edward S. Curtis – “The Water Carriers” (Hopi)
Updated August 7, 2026
| Lot number | 3023 |
| Auction | Coin, Stamp, Collectables and More 29 |
| Date | August 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM CDT |
| Auction house | Featherznest |
| Location | Grapevine, Arkansas |
Edward S. Curtis – “The Water Carriers” (Hopi), 1921Portfolio from The North American IndianPhotogravure, image size approximately 11¼ × 15¼ inches This is the classic Curtis image of two young Hopi women standing side-by-side in a desert landscape, each balancing a large, elaborately painted olla (water jar) on her head. They are wrapped in heavy dark shawls or blankets that cover their heads and bodies, with only their faces and lower legs/feet visible. One jar shows bold geometric “step” designs; the other features animal motifs (deer/antelope).Curtis photographed the scene in the Hopi country (Arizona) and published it in 1921 as Plate 435 in Volume/Portfolio XII (The Hopi). It is one of his most iconic and frequently reproduced Southwest images of women performing the daily labor of carrying water.
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