Mary Ester Archuleta - Santa Clara/San Juan     

Mary Ester Archuleta is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and a sister of renown potters Shirley Tafoya, Mela Youngblood, LuAnn Tafoya and Toni Roller.  While growing up at Santa Clara, she married and moved to San Juan Pueblo in the 1960's.  She was pivotal in the revival of San Juan incised pottery in the early 1970's and is one of the few potters who is able to stone polish the tan coloration on her pottery with such a high shine.  Mary has never been a prolific potter and rarely made large vessels. Here are two exceptional pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a large open bowl which is fully polished on the inside and the outside!  That is technically always risky, as the pottery is more likely to crack when polishing.  The rim is fully incised with traditional San Juan designs of rain, clouds and lightning.  The incised are is also slipped with a micaceous clay which is in visual contrast to the highly polished red.  The jar on the right is a classic style San Juan shape with a polished rim and base.  The area around the center of the bowl is fully incised with a feather pattern.  This matte area is slipped with a micaceous clay to again contrast and sparkle against the polished surfaces.  Take a closer look any any of the above images and not the beautiful symmetry of her pottery along with the precision of her incising!  The coloration on both pieces is stunning, with a deep, red appearance.    Mary has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and has been written about in numerous books including, "Born of Fire".

Left:        Large Bowl with Incised Micaceous Rim                 12.5"w x 6.25"h          $3000.00 - SOLD

Right:     Bowl with Incised Feather Pattern                             6"w x 5.5"h                $1500.00

Angela Baca (b. 1927) - Santa Clara     

Angela Baca is a daughter of Severa Tafoya, and the mother of noted potters Alvin, David and Leona Baca.  She began making pottery in the 1950's and while she has created a wide variety of styles, her name is certainly synonymous with her classic style melon bowls.  This bowl has a very round shape and there are 24 ribs which are fully polished, even between each rib!  The bowl is from the mid 1980's and has a very crisp and elegant style to the melon shape. The perfectly round shape and the linear style of the ribs creates a beautiful complement of shape and design.  Angela has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years and her pieces can be found in museums nationwide.

6"w x 4.75"h

$400.00 - SOLD

  Dolores Curran - Santa Clara   

Spectacular!  This is one of the largest pieces Dolores has made in her new "black poly-tonal" style.  It is exciting to see how a potter can take the traditional "black" and then modify it with simply polishing and rubbing techniques to create various shades of black and grey.  The jar is a classic water jar shape and the entire surface is fully designed!  Technically, this is an amazing jar.  The designs are precision carved into the clay and then the surface areas are either polished or slipped with mica or rubbed until they are almost a gunmetal coloration.  Dolores has also painted on top of some of the polished sections, adding one more dimension to the jar.  The designs around  the neck are bird tail feather patterns.  Between the tail feather design are polished prayer feathers. Around the shoulder is an avanyu (water serpent), with alternating micaceous and matte surfaces to the body.  Below the shoulder are two panels of San Juan Pueblo rain designs.  Between them are stylized dancers and rain patterns.  Take a look a the third image above and note the detail in the carved designs and painted imagery.  Dolores has won numerous awards for pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and other events and has been featured in books and magazines such as Native Peoples Magazine (above right).  This is a beautiful and intricate example of her pottery.

6.5"w x 6"h

$4400.00 - SOLD

6.5"w x 3.5"h

$1200.00 

2.25"w x 3.5"h
$400.00

     Jason Ebelacker (b.1980) - Santa Clara  

Jason is the youngest son of noted potter Richard Ebelacker, a grandson of Virginia Ebelacker and a great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  He follows the traditional methods of using native clay, coil building his pottery and native firing. This canister is beautifully polished and carved with diagonal panels, reminiscent of feather patterns on more classic Santa Clara pottery. This use of such a classic design has a very modern appearance this young innovative potter.  While Jason doesn't make a lot of pottery, his pieces are an exciting continuation of a long family legacy! 

5.5"w x 7.25"h

$500.00

Jerome Ebelacker (b. 1977)- Santa Clara  

Jerome has been following in his illustrious family's path by making stunning larger vessels.   He learned to make pottery from his father, Richard Ebelacker and he is a great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  Jerome has focused on traditional forms for his pottery, often researching museums and older photographs for inspiration. This is one of his smaller pieces and it is classic water jar with bear paws.  It is an elegant shape and highly polished red.  It is exciting to see new work by this exceptional potter and Jerome is definitely an "up and coming" potter from Santa Clara in the traditional style of pottery, and one to watch! 

 5.5"w x 6"h 

$550.00

Sarena Ebelacker (b. 1985) - Santa Clara  

Sarena Ebelacker is a creative and innovative young potter.  She is a daughter of noted potter James Ebelacker, a granddaughter of Virginia Ebelacker and a great-granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  Her pottery uses traditional techniques but with a very modern appearance.  This jar is polished at the top and  bottom with a carved band around the shoulder. The design is what she calls, "lightning lace", as it is a lightning pattern in a more circular formation.  Note the depth of her carving the use of the micaceous clay on the carved area.   Sarena has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured on the cover of Native People's magazine as one of four "Emerging Potters: Generation Next" in 2010.  She is definitely a potter to watch!

6"w x 4"h

$450.00

     Virginia Ebelacker (1925-2001) - Santa Clara  

Virginia Ebelacker was the first child of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and a matriarch of a family of renown potters including her son, Richard Ebelacker and grandsons Jerome and Jason.  Virginia developed a reputation for her large scale pottery and amazing even polish!  This long neck jar is an unusual form with a flared neck and the carving around the body of the piece.  The entire piece is fully polished and the carving is a rain storm design.  Note the consistency to the carving and the elegant flow of design. As well, the polishing is just stunning and the way the light hits the angles on the neck and flared mouth are beautiful!  This jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Work of hers is always a wonderful find and an elegant addition to any collection!

5.25"w x 7.25"h

$1600.00

      Jody Folwell - Santa Clara  

Jody Folwell is has long been an innovator in Pueblo pottery, since her evolutionary work of the 1970's when she began firing her pottery with brown colorations and utilizing non-traditional design elements.  Today, Jody continues to evolve in her art and each piece brings together different aspects of her long history of making pottery.  Here are two distinctive pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a beautiful bowl which is fully polished and fired a dark brownish-red.  The design is delicately incised into the surface of the clay.  The precision and detail in this piece are striking!  The design is a series of butterflies, or moths, which are inspired by the classic imagery seen on Hopi pottery.  However, it is also possible to see her own addition to the design, as there are the little Folwell "x's" near each of the butterflies!   The bowl on the right is a stunning shape and highly polished.  It has been traditionally fired and the black area are from the reduction process of cow manure touching the surface after the firing.  It is a simple but elegant bowl.  Jody is a daughter of Rose Naranjo and the mother of potters Polly Rose Folwell and Susan Folwell.  Her pottery can be found in museums around the country and her work has been featured in numerous books, including "The Art of Clay" and "Legacy of Generations".

Left:        Wide Fully Polished Jar with Butterflies             8"w x 4"h                       $1800.00

Right:     Plainware Bowl with Black Fired Rim                 7.5"w x 5.5"h                 $1500.00

Jody Folwell & Susan Folwell- Santa Clara   NEW

Jody Folwell and her daughter Susan have both been important in the evolution of Pueblo pottery, especially since the late 1990's.  This unique jar is one on which both Jody and Susan have collaborated.  It is a large bowl made by Jody and the polished down to the shoulder.  It is a beautiful polish and the contrast of the shine near the neck and the matte near the base is perfect for the imagery. The design was done by Susan and it is an interesting blend of deep carved and sgraffito techniques.  The image is a large bird which is encircling the bowl.  The bird is deeply carved into the clay and then highlighted with acrylic and sliver leaf slips.  The remainder of the bowl has a feather pattern which has been lightly etched into the surface of the clay and surrounds the neck and the bird.  Note as well the firing, which is a beautiful coloration!  Jody traditionally fires her pottery and her technique creates some beautiful colorations in the clay, such as the black rim and the various shades of red in the clay.  Jody and Susan have both been written about in numerous books on Native art and both have won awards at various Native arts events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market. Their work can also be found in museums throughout the country.  This is a beautiful collaborative piece and captures their unique styles and strengths in one vessel!

9.25"w x 7.5"h                  

$3800.00

Polly Rose Folwell - Santa Clara  

Polly is a daughter of Jody Folwell and a sister of Susan Folwell. This small jar has an asymmetrical rim and a very high polish.  The jar has a stylized feather pattern incised into the clay encircling the entire piece.  The coloration from the firing is simply stunning, with a variance of color from black to brown.  Polly has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" at the Heard Museum Market.

4"w x 4"h             

$700.00

Polly Rose Folwell - Santa Clara  

Polly is a daughter of Jody Folwell and a sister of Susan Folwell. While Polly is well known for her incised patterns, she also creates stunning classic forms.  Here are two pieces from different stages of her career.  This tall jar is a new pieces and has a cylindrical form with a double shoulder and the entire piece is fully polished.  There is a painted feather pattern painted around the shoulder of  the piece.  The entire jar has been native fired black and the matte area is in perfect complement to the highly polished surface.  Polly has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" at the Heard Museum Market.

5.5"w x 10.5"h           

$800.00

      Susan Folwell - Santa Clara   NEW

Here are two wonderful miniatures by Susan Folwell.  She has been making canteens over the past year with both traditional and contemporary themes.  The straps are made from leather and the stopper are from wood.  This is one of her miniatures canteens.  It has kiva steps and stars as the central pattern.  The designs are both painted and incised and the back is painted with the Folwell family "x's".  The small jar on the right has a very tightly incised series of three roses, which are incised into the clay and highlighted with slips.  They are connected by thorns, which are actually barbed wire, which is certainly a modern update on the more classic imagery.  The remainder of the jar is polished tan in coloration.  Susan is a daughter of Jody Folwell and sister of Polly Rose Folwell.  She has won numerous awards at event such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.  She has been featured in several books, including NDN, Free Spirit and others.

Left:         Canteen with Kiva Steps & Stars                2.25"w x 2.25"h x 1" deep           $300.00

Right:      Mini Jar with Roses and Thorns                 1.5"w x 1.5"h                                 $200.00

Susan Folwell continues to be one of the leading innovators among today's Pueblo potters.  Over the past year she has been working on her creative version of the Pueblo "Pin-up" girls and "Femme Fatales".  This is a combination of the 1940's "Pin-up Girls" with adding a glamorous appearance the the modern Pueblo woman.  She has been using canteens for these pieces, which holds a two-fold purpose.  The shape of the canteen provides a perfect surface for her to create her painted imagery.  As well, the canteens have a connection to the Pueblo women, who would historically go each day to the river to get water and then it would often be stored in canteens.  Here are three of these dynamic pieces.  On the left is a larger canteen with the single Femme Fatale in the center, with a very seductive Betty Page stylized Pueblo woman with a cigarette on the front. On the back it is painted and she has attached a piece of metal.  The canteen in the center is the prefect complement to the two girls on either side.  Susan painted the central medallion with the classic Indian Chief, with amazing detail to the headdress.  However, there is her own added charm to the design with the heart on the headdress, maybe he is seeking love with one of the two women on the other canteens? The canteen itself is polished tan and has some wonderful coloration from the firing.  The canteen on the right has a more rounded front and the pin-up girl is more stylized with a leather skirt, moccasins and a feather in her hair.  Susan has added corn cobs as the stoppers on the top and leather straps for the handles.  Susan is a daughter of Jody Folwell and sister of Polly Rose Folwell.  She has won numerous awards at event such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.  She has been featured in several books, including NDN, Free Spirit and others.

Left:         Large "Pueblo Femme Fatale" Canteen           10" diameter x 3" deep                $2500.00

Center:    Tan Canteen with Indian Head Design          7"w x 8" long  x 3.5"h                  $1800.00

Right:      Round "Pueblo Pinup" Canteen                      6"w x 7"h x 3.5"h                          $1800.00 - SOLD

      Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    

Here are two pieces which reflect the various styles of pottery by Susan Folwell.  Her innovative work was initially inspired by her mother, Jody Folwell, who broke many of the traditional conventions in the 1970's. The jar on the left is slipped with a blue underglaze and then painted with birds and branches.  The classic shape speaks well with the use of the birds and tree branches as they encircle the jar.  The birds here are honeyguides or "honey birds which eat both the wax around the honey and the bee larvae.  Here there are small areas with the bees and honeycombs.  Note as well the rim of the jar, which Susan intentionally left crackled and unslipped, giving the jar a old feel, while the design seems so contemporary.  The seedpot on the right is fully polished and fired a beautiful variation of browns.  The entire piece is fully incised with designs.  There are two birds on one side and a feather and corn pattern on the opposite.  Between the two designs are the Folwell family "x's" which often represent the stars.  There is a slight bit of mica in the clay which adds to the sparkle of the piece!  Susan has won numerous awards at event such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market.  She has been featured in several books, including NDN, Free Spirit and others.

Left:        Jar with Birds                                         8.5"w x 9.5"h            $1800.00

Right:     Red Seedpot with Birds                       4"w x 3.5"h              $600.00 - SOLD

Golden Rod (Gloria Garcia) is renown for her wonderfully incised miniature pottery. Each piece is coil built, stone polished and then the designs are delicately etched into the surface of the clay.  These three pieces all have wildlife scenes.   The bowl on the left has a stylized avanyu with an angular back which as the bowl is turned looks like a mountain design.   The seedpot in the center is fired black and has two hummingbirds etched into the clay.  They are in flight and note there is also a small sunface in the sky!  The red is additional clay slip which is added.  The bowl on the right has two deer on one side and a mountain lion on the other side.  There is an additional band of incised rain designs and a bluish colored slip.  Gloria Garcia is a daughter of Petra Gutierrez and a sister of potters Minnie Vigil, Lois Gutierrez and the mother of Jason Garcia.  Gloria is known for her intricately incised miniature pottery.  Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years at Santa Fe Indian Market and has work in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

Left:           Bowl with Avanyu                           2.5"w x 2.5"h            $575.00

Center:     Seedpot with Hummingbirds         2"w x 2"h                  $500.00

Right:       Bowl with Deer and Mt. Lion         3"w x 2.5"h               $700.00

Goldenrod (Gloria Garcia) - Santa Clara  

Golden Rod (Gloria Garcia) is renown for her wonderfully incised miniature pottery. Each piece is coil built, stone polished and then the designs are delicately etched into the surface of the clay.  These three pieces reflect the variety of the designs in her pottery.  The bowl on the left has a series of birds encircling the piece.  The black bowl in the center has a classic plumed water serpent as the design.  There are additional sun face patterns under the body of the avanyu.  She has added a red clay slip to accent the feathers on the avanyu and also inset a piece of turquoise for the eye.  The bowl on the right has a series of bears in four panels.  Two panels have realistic bears while the alternating two panels have Mimbres inspired bears.  Separating the panels are little incised bear paws!  Gloria Garcia is a daughter of Petra Gutierrez and a sister of potters Minnie Vigil, Lois Gutierrez and the mother of Jason Garcia.  Gloria is known for her intricately incised miniature pottery.  Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years at Santa Fe Indian Market and has work in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

Left:           Bowl with Birds                                                    2"w x 1.75"h             $300.00

Center:      Black Bowl with Plumed Water Serpent         3"w x 2.5"h               $500.00

Right:        Bowl with Bears                                                    2.25"w x 2"h             $500.00   

     Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  NEW

These two tiles are the most recent work in clay by Jason Garcia.  These two works show a change in his work with more movement and detail in the figures.  On the left is a tile entitled "Boreas", and show a Pueblo girl in the wind, holding her shawl over her head.  Note in the back ground the outline of the tree bending to the wind, and also the raincloud in the upper corner, with the rain blowing in the wind!  Take a closer look at the shawl and the girl, as it is highly detailed.  The tile on the right is entitled, "The Potter - Kha Po Owinge". Kha Po Owinge is the Tewa name for Santa Clara pueblo.  Here there is an interesting contrast of with the detail of the woman carrying her pottery in a basket and in her hand with the linear outline of the building in the background.  There is amazing detail in her shawl, face and pottery which stand out against the starkness in her surroundings.   Each piece is a hand built clay tile, made from native clay.  All of the colors are derived from Native clay. Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.

Left:        "Boreas"                                              7" x 9"                $1200.00

Right:     "The Potter - Kha Po Owinge"       7" x 9"                $1200.00

      Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

Jason Garcia is fascinated with  the juxtaposition of contemporary and Pueblo culture. These three tiles capture the connection of the traditional dancers and modern technology.  On the left is a tile entitled, "Corn Maiden #20" and it is part of the Corn Maiden Series.  Here the Corn Maiden Dancer is relaxing on the side of an old convertible after her dance.  Jason has made a series of these tiles with various cars and motorcycles as the supporting imagery.  Note in the background the traditional rain clouds and the outline of the church at Santa Clara Pueblo.  In the center is a tile with two boys standing on the kiva (the underground room where traditional Pueblo ceremonies take place) in front of the Kiva ladder.  The is an older boy and his younger brother.  Jason said that this tile reminded him of his older brother, who passed away when Jason was just a small boy.  Here the two boys are looking off into the distance with a rather sentimental placement of the older brother standing behind and looking over his younger brother.  The tile on the right in another in the Corn Maiden series.  This tile has a young girl with her very modern bag standing in front of the kiva ladder and the pueblo.  The coloration is wonderful on this piece, as it looks like the setting sun in the background, with the girl having finished the dance and ready to leave the plaza and return to her modern life.  Each piece is a hand built clay tile, made from native clay.  All of the colors are derived from Native clay. Each of his tiles is a perfect balance between the traditional "two-dimensional" Pueblo artwork and realism.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.

Left:            Corn Maiden #20 - Girl Leaning on a Car             6.5" x 9"         $1200.00

Center:       Boys at the Kiva                                                          7" x 9"             $1200.00

Right:          Corn  Maiden #16 - Girl with a Purse                   7" x 9"             $1200.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

This jar is has two sets of girls dressed for the Corn Maiden dance.  On one side there are three girls together and the other side has two girls who are Jason's daughters.  They are surrounded in the background by a Pueblo scene.  Note the satellite dishes and the TV antennae on the historic buildings.  It is amazing that Jason uses only natural clay slips to create the designs on his pottery.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.  His work is currently in the traveling museum exhibit, "Comic Art Indigene", at the Heard Museum in "Native Pop" and his work was recently written up in "Art Ltd." magazine.

4.5"w x 9"h

$2000.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

Since his the firs showing of his "comic book covers" at our gallery in 2008, they have become among his most iconic imagery.  Each of the "covers" is based on the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and the series is entitled, "Tewa Tales of Suspense".  This tile is entitled, "Fury in the Iron Tower", with the combat between the Pueblo warrior and the Spanish conquistadors.  The date on this pre-dates the Pueblo Revolt but focuses on the arrival of the Spanish in 1611.  The piece is a clay tiles and painted with native clay slips and native fired.   Jason includes an amazing amount of historic and cultural information in his tiles. He is from family of renown potters, including his mother Gloria Garcia (Goldenrod) and great-grandmother, Severa Tafoya.  In  he was 2007 Dubin Fellowship recipient at the School of American Research in Santa Fe. One of his first comic tiles continues in the traveling exhibition of, "Comic Art Indigene", which has been at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.. Jason's innovative style and artwork in clay continues to make him one of the young leaders in Pueblo art. 

9.5"w x 11.75"h

$2400.00 - SOLD

Tammy Garcia - Santa Clara  

This is a beautifully carved canister by Tammy Garcia.  It is an early piece of her work, made in 1988 and signed "Tammy Borts".  The design is the classic water serpent (avanyu) which encircles the entire piece. The intricacy of the design and the shape work together perfectly. The jar is beautifully polished and there is a wonderful contrast of the matte and polished surfaces.  The red on this jar is a wonderful deep coloration, which was derived from her early traditional outdoor firings as opposed to her using an electric kiln today.  The background area is also filled in with a traditional clay slip.  She only did this on some of her early pieces and then began to just use water to smooth out the matte area around the carvings as it was an easier process with such complicated carvings.  While simple compared to her current work, it is distinctive in its composition and design.  Tammy is a daughter of Linda Cain, sister of Autumn Borts-Medlock, granddaughter of Mary Cain and great-granddaughter of Christina Naranjo.  Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery and most recently was the subject of a one-woman exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. This jar is accompanied by a copy of her book, "Tammy Garcia: Form Without Boundaries".

5"w x 6.25"h

$4400.00

Tina Garcia was a sister of Greg Garcia and granddaughter of Severa Tafoya.  She was renown for her re-creation of classic Santa Clara forms.  Her vessels are thin walled and highly polished.  It is the balance of form and the simplicity of design which was definitely a hallmark of her pottery.  These are three beautiful variations to her style of pottery.  On the left is a fully polished kiva bowl, with a kiva step design rising from the back of the piece.  The "kiva steps" are representative of the Kiva, which is where all ceremonial religious activities take place.  The shoulder on the bowl is very sharp and creates a beautiful edge as the piece rises to the terraced side.  The inside of the bowl is slipped with a micaceous clay.  The bowl on the right is a classic shape with a sharp shoulder and two impressed bear paws. The entire piece is fully polished and traditionally fired.  The shape and angle of the neck are perfect to reveal the bear paws as the design.  The jar on the right is a classic water jar with a double shoulder, long neck and a fluted rim. The jar is beautifully polished and reflects the symmetry of her work and the elegance of her polishing skill.  All three pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Tina won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market, and her work can also be found in museums around the country.

Left:             Black Kiva Bowl                                         8"w x 6.5"h              $900.00

Center:        Red Bowl with Bear Paws                        6.5"w x 5.75"h         $600.00

Right:          Black Long Neck Water Jar                      6"w x 8.25"h            $1000.00

 Virginia Garcia - Santa Clara  

Virginia Garcia is from a family of renown potters, including siblings Tina Garcia and Greg Garcia and a granddaughter of Severa Tafoya.  Virginia has long been focused on making very classic style Santa Clara pottery.  The jar on the left has a double shoulder and has been fired a dark black.  She has also fluted the rim so that it undulates in shape.  The jar is beautifully polished.  The red water jar on the right is one of her larger pieces. The round shape extends up to a smaller mouth. There are impressed bear paws around the neck.  The jar is beautifully polished and an elegant shape.

The stunning red coloration achieved in the traditional firing process.  Virginia has won numerous awards for her pottery and continues to push boundaries with the colors achieved with her firings.

he has been making

Left:              Black Jar with Fluted Rim                    6"w x 7.5"h                    $400.00

Right:           Red Water Jar with Bear Paws            8"w x 10.25"h                 $700.00

Lois Gutierrez is one of the few potters at Santa Clara pueblo who continues to create true polychrome pottery.  Each of the different colors on this piece are derived from different clays!  It is amazing to think of the time it takes to find different clays to create the various colors.  This jar is a wonderful shape, with an old style narrow, concave base (about 3" diameter) which rises up to a shoulder which is almost ten inches across and then slopes up to the rim.  The design around the shoulder consists of two water serpents (avanyu) encircling the bowl.  Around the neck are three birds, which are a perfect contrast to the flow and color of the avanyus.  Note how the wings of bird are painted with a natural clay slip in such a "painterly" manner! Lois not only uses all natural clays, but also native fires her pottery.  Lois is the sister of noted potters Gloria Garcia (Goldenrod), Minnie Vigil and Thelma Talachy.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Show" at the Santa Fe Indian Market in the early 1980's.

9.5"w x 7"h

$850.00 - SOLD

Whimsical animals and unique shaped vessels were often created in clay by Margaret and Luther Gutierrez.  They were the children of noted potters Lela and Van Gutierrez.  They continued the family tradition of polychrome pottery.  All the different colors on these pieces are derived from natural clay slips.  On the left is one of their square bowls, with flat sides. There are Yei inspired figures and animals as the main designs.  On the Center Left is a miniature wedding vase.  There is a flute player on one side and cricket on the other.  The miniature bear in the Center Right is one of their whimsical animals.  The bear has a bug painted on its belly and a design also painted on its back. On the right is a small jar with three different insects as the design.  Each of the pieces is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Margaret and Luther have been featured in numerous books on Native Art and won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market, Gallup Ceremonials and other events.

Left:                    Square Bowl with Yei Figures                     4"w x 3.25"h              $600.00

Center Left:       Mini Wedding Vase                                      1"h                              $100.00

Center Right:    Mini Bear                                                        1.25"h                         $100.00

Right:                 Jar with Insects                                               1 1/8"h                        $100.00

     Helen "Tse-Sah-Wee-Eh" Hardin (1943 - 1984) - Santa Clara  

Helen Hardin was a daughter of noted Santa Clara painter Pablita Velarde.  Her mother was among the first women to begin painting at Santa Clara Pueblo.  Helen developed her own unique style of painting, initially with more traditional subject and then with her own variations of Mimbres and pueblo imagery.  Both paintings are original acrylic and are a wonderful, intimate size.  They have been reframed individually in a single white matte.  Both paintings are in excellent condition and are signed in the lower right with her Tewa name, "Tse-Sah-Wee-Eh" and a small spruce tree. Helen has been featured in a PBS documentary on Native Artists, along with various books, such as "Changing Woman", Arizona Highways and other magazine.  Her innovative original artwork has influenced the direction of Native art for the past thirty years and continues to maintain its unique beauty over time.

Mimbres Bird             Original Acrylic       3" x 4" image size            $1100.00  - SOLD        

Mimbres Rabbit        Original Acrylic       3" x 4" image size            $1100.00  - SOLD

    Art Cody Haungooah (1943 - 1983) - Kiowa   NEW

Art Cody Haungooah began making pottery at Santa Clara Pueblo in the early 1970's.  Married to Martha Suazo, he developed his unique style of incised imagery using Santa Clara coiling and polishing techniques.  Until he passed away in the early 1980's, he was considered very creative for his very distinctive imagery.  The seedpot on the left is from 1977 and has a stylized bird with an insect in its beak.  The remainder of the piece is fully polished.  The seedpot on the right is from 1978 and is a beautiful brownish coloration. There is a band of slanted feathers encircling the piece above a more traditional feather band below.  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

Left:         Seedpot with Bird  & Bug                                            1.75"w x 1.5"h             $350.00

Right:     Brown Seedpot with Feather Design                         1.5"w x 1.5"h                $300.00     

   Art Cody Haungooah (1943 - 1983) - Kiowa  

Art Cody Haungooah began making pottery at Santa Clara Pueblo in the early 1970's.  Married to Martha Suazo, he developed his unique style of incised imagery using Santa Clara coiling and polishing techniques.  Today his son Dean Haungooah continues on in a similar tradition of tightly incised pottery.  Until he passed away in the early 1980's, he was considered very creative for his very distinctive imagery.  These are both distinctive pieces of his pottery. The bowl on the left has a stylized koshari clown and a lizard as the design in the central medallion.  This bowl is from 1976.   The tall seedpot on the right has a water serpent as the design and a sunface on the top.  Note that around the water serpent he has highlighted it with a yellow clay slip!  Both pieces are in excellent condition and beautiful examples of this talented potter! 

Left:        Bowl with Koshari Clown and Lizard            2.5"w x 2"h           $650.00

Right:     Red Seedpot with Sunface & Avanyu           1.25"w x 1.75"h     $600.00

Art Cody Haungooah (1943 - 1983) - Kiowa  

Here are two extraordinary seedpots by Art Cody Haungooah from the early 1980's.  The seedpot on the left is fully polished red and has a green area on the top with a sgraffito Mimbres style scorpion.  The body of the scorpion is additional incised and additional clay slips are added.  There are small designs, such as a sunface, surrounding the top of the seedpot.  The tall seedpot on the right has a medallion on one side with a Mimbres style frog.  It has been two-toned tan.  On the other side near the top is a turtle with a green back.  The turtle again has additional sgraffito designs and colors added.  Note as well the designs which are etched into the clay near the base!  These are both among the more intricate and complicated of Art's pottery!  Simply amazing.  They are each signed with a fish and the initials "AH" on the bottom in the clay.  Both pieces are in excellent condition and beautiful examples of this talented potter! 

Left:         Red and Green Seedpot with Scorpion                        2.25"w x 2.5"h        $1000.00

Right:      Black, Green and Brown Seedpot with Turtle            2"w x 2.75"h            $1200.00   

Dean Haungooah is the son of noted potter, Art Cody Haungooah.  He has continued in his father's style of sgraffito pottery with very detailed imagery.  The seedpot on the left has a incised bird as the central part of the design.  This piece is also featured in the book, "Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies" by Greg Schaaf on p. 47.  The seedpot on the right has a series of six roses and a cross incised into the clay. 

Left:        Seedpot with Bird                           1.5"w x 1.5"h        $150.00

Right:     Seedpot w/ Roses                            1.75"w x 2.25"h    $150.00

Kelli Little Katchina is a daughter of Lucy Yearflower and a granddaughter of Camilio Tafoya.  This is a beautiful bowl with a deep carved avanyu as the design. The avanyu encircles the entire bowl.  The area behind the carving is incised with linear lines which are left matte.  The contrast of the matte and polished surfaces along with the flowing designs is striking.   This bowl is from 1988 and while Kelli no longer makes pottery, but her pieces are a beautiful example of the her complicated pottery which was certainly innovative for its time! 

3.25"w x 2.5"h

$250.00

    Myra Little Snow - Santa Clara  

Myra Little Snow is a daughter of Lucy Yearflower and a granddaughter of Camilio Tafoya.  This little miniature bowl has a deeply carved avanyu as the design, encircling the top of the piece.  It is fully polished and amazing how intricate the carving is for such a small bowl!  While neither she nor her sister, Kelli, continue to make pottery, their pieces are striking in their design and complexity.

1.5"w x 1"h

$150.00

  Joseph Lonewolf - Santa Clara  

These small seedpots reflects the evolution of Joseph's pottery and his use of Mimbres imagery.  The black seedpot was made in 1977 and it is highly polished and one of his few black pieces.  The top is fully etched with a Mimbres style antelope and there are surrounding rain and cloud patterns.  The seedpot on the right is from 1986.  It is highly polished and has a turtle as the central design.  The turtle is surrounded by water and as the piece is turned, on the back are wonderfully delicate and detailed butterflies and flowers.  They surround his yearly symbol which is a heart in a medallion.  Both pieces are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Joseph Lonewolf is a son of noted potter Camilio Tafoya, and the brother of Grace Medicine Flower.  It is definitely exciting to find pieces of Joseph's pottery in this size and with such classic imagery! Each piece is accompanied by the book, "The Pottery Jewels of Joseph Lonewolf".

Left:        Black Seedpot w/ Antelope                       1.5"w x 1.25"h           $1600.00

Right:     Red Seedpot with Green Turtle               1.25"w x 1.5"h           $1800.00

Joseph Lonewolf - Santa Clara  

Joseph Lonewolf is renown for his innovative and creative ability to use realistic imagery for his pottery.  Over the course of his career the intricacy of his pottery has continued to evolve.  These two realistic seedpots are from 2000, and they are fully etched for the design and then additional clay colors are added!  The seedpot on the left has a bald eagle head as the central design.  The detail in the etching of the eye, feathers and beak are simply stunning.  There is an additional eagle feather around the shoulder of the seedpot, which is a symbol of strength, along with two macaw feathers beside the eagle's head, which symbolize happiness and hope.  The jagged line around the shoulder is meant to nesting of the bald eagle near water.  There is an additional etched butterfly near the base along with two medallions, one a "Wild Daisy" and the other a "Sunflower', signifying Jospeh's parents.  On the right is one of his larger pieces which is entitled, "Mountain Fox".  Joseph has etched the fur on the body, making it almost appear realistic!  The eagle feathers below and beside the fox are to signify a successful hunt for the fox.  This is simply a breathtaking piece of his clay work!  Near the base are a butterfly along with two medallions representing his parents.  Both pieces are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Among his later work, it is pieces like these which reflect the continued growth of Joseph as an artist and potter!

Left:            Seedpot with Bald Eagle                                    2 1/16"w x 1"h        $5900.00

Right:         Seedpot with Grey Mountain Fox                    3"w x 1"h                $7900.00       

Rosemary is a daughter of Joseph Lonewolf and is known for her intricately etched seedpots.  Here is an exceptional miniature which is  fully incised and the designs are highlighted with additional clay slips.  This seedpot is from the early 1980's.  The small seedpot  has three butterflies on the top half and flowers on the lower section.   Looking down from the top are incised butterfly wing patterns.  There are additional green, white and blue clay slips.  Typical of her work, the balance of polished and matte areas is simply perfect and complements the intricacy of the designs.  While Rosemary no longer makes her incised pottery, this piece is a perfect of why her work has achieved such recognition.  It is in perfect condition.  Rosemary has been featured in numerous books, including "Beyond Traditions" and has received numerous awards for her intricate pottery and use of realism in her designs.

1.5"w x 1.5"h              

$500.00

Vickie Martinez - Santa Clara    

Vickie Martinez is known for her beautifully carved and very large pieces of Santa Clara pottery.  This jar is no exception.  It has a feather pattern around the neck and a water serpent carved around the shoulder.  Note as the jar is turned how the carved design flows from the negative space of the polished area around the base of the jar.  The carving throughout the piece is very clean and crisp.  As well, Vickie polishes her pottery to a high shine and fires them to a dark black coloration, in the classic style.  Vickie is a daughter of Barbara Martinez and she began making pottery in 1983.  Her brothers Sammy Naranjo and Chris Martinez are also accomplished potters. 

9.5"w x 12"h      

$1200.00 - SOLD

Grace Medicine Flower (b. 1938) - Santa Clara  

Early in her career, Grace was well known for her miniature sgraffito (etched) pottery. These wonderful miniature seedpots are from 1975-6 and are beautiful examples of his early work.  The seedpot on the left has butterflies and flowers on the top and a sunface medallion on the side.  The precision of the designs is simply perfect.  Note as well in the matte area surrounding the designs that it is also fully etched!   On the right is a larger seedpot which is fully designed with prancing deer.  They encompass the entire surface of the seedpot and they are stylistically like the two-dimensional painted deer of Pop Chalee.  The deer are surrounded by traditional cloud and rain patterns.  Grace was among the first in the early 1970's to begin using the "sgraffito" technique to etch designs into the clay.  She did this along with her brother, Joseph Lonewolf, and her father, Camilio Tafoya.  The seedpots are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Left:        Red Seedpot with butterflies            1.75"w x 1.25"h            $900.00

Right:     Red Seedpot with Deer                      4"w x 2.75"h                 $2800.00

Grace Medicine Flower (b. 1938) - Santa Clara    

Grace Medicine Flower was among the first in the early 1970's to begin using the "sgraffito" technique to etch designs into the clay.  She did this along with her brother, Joseph Lonewolf, and her father, Camilio Tafoya.  Over the years her work has evolved in amazing new directions.  The smaller neck jar on the right has two deer as the design, incised into the clay.  The front has a fully incised deer in motion, while the other side has a smaller deer lying down right around the shoulder of the piece.  It is perfectly polished and for such a small work in clay, amazingly full of design!

2.25"w x 2.75"h         

$1900.00

Grace Medicine Flower (b. 1938) - Santa Clara    

Grace Medicine Flower continues to be create amazing pieces of pottery. Each original piece continues her own unique style of polychrome pottery.  This long neck jar by Grace has two deeply carved and incised baskets as the central design. There are additional slipped and incised butterflies extending across the jar in a series of panels.  The neck is painted with natural clay slips and the carved red polished medallions near the base are also fully incised with cloud and rain patterns.  All the different clay colors are derived from native clays.  The contrast of matte and polished surfaces draws the eye to the various designs and imagery on this beautiful vase.  Note that all of Grace's colorations, incising and design work is done before the vessel is fired, which adds to the complex and risky nature of her work! Grace has not only received the SWAIA Lifetime Achievement Award, but also was one of the early innovators of the "sgraffito" technique and her work can be found in museums around the world.  She continues to be a true innovator on a technical level, but more importantly, creates vessels of aesthetic beauty far beyond the simplicity of the clay itself.

4.5"w x 5'h

$6000.00 - SOLD

  Jody Naranjo - Santa Clara      NEW

Jody Naranjo has found a distinctive place in the world of contemporary Pueblo pottery.  Using traditional methods from coil building her vessels to outdoor firings, she creates a distinctive coloration that varies on each of her pieces.  However, it is not the shape which captures the eye, as it is purely a canvas for her distinctive style of design work.  Her whimsical imagery is etched into the surface of the clay.  The balance of matte and polished surfaces give the designs an even more distinctive appeal. Her are two spectacular pieces of her pottery.  On the left is a flat seedpot with circular designs etched into the clay and the "crazy horse" riders encircling the piece.  While the top is polished, turning the piece over reveals a matte surface and additional incised designs.  The tall jar on the right is one of the largest pieces we have seen of Jody's work in a while.  It is a stunning piece which has been beautifully fired to create the variations in the color.  The rim and vase are fully polished and fully designed.  The area around the center is matte and incised with horses and riders.  Note how the face and movement of each rider is different!  As well, the are behind the figures is also fully incised with linear designs.  Jody comes from a family of renown artists and potters, including her mother Dolly Naranjo, aunts Jody Folwell, Nora Naranjo-Morse and Rina Swentzell  She has won numerous major awards for her pottery including "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market and "Best of Show" at the Eiteljorg Museum Indian Market in addition to a variety of other blue ribbon prizes.   Her pottery has been featured in numerous books and it is in the permanent collection of museums worldwide.   It is always exciting to see such distinctive and impressive pieces by this renowned potter!

Left:        Seedpot with Crazy Horses and Riders                        8.25"w x 3"h            $2000.00
Right:     Large Jar with Detailed Rim, Horses and Riders        10"w x 13"h             $7000.00

Madeline Naranjo - Santa Clara  

Here are two intricately carved pieces by Madeline Naranjo.  She is a granddaughter of Madeline Naranjo and known for her deeply carved pottery which is thin walled and contrasts the matte area of her carved designs with the polished surfaces.  The jar on the left has two female potters on each side.  One is holding a bowl, the other a jar.  Between them are carved storage jars.  The detail and crisp lines of the carving are simply perfect.  The bowl on the right is fully carved with a water serpent on each side.  One is matte, the other polished and they are separated by a very detailed rain cloud pattern.  The style of the carving on the rain clouds is reminiscent of the designs on the sashes worn by the Pueblo dancers during ceremonial events.  The contrast of polished and matte surfaces further highlights her intricate designs.  Madeline has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and is definitely an "up and coming" Santa Clara potter to watch!

Left:        Jar with Potters & Pottery                 4.25"w x 3.75"h     $500.00   

Right:     Bowl Avanyu & Rain Clouds          4"w x 3.75"h          $500.00  - SOLD

Marian Rose Naranjo  - Santa Clara 

Marian Naranjo is a sister of noted potter Paul Naranjo.  She began making pottery in the early 1980's with her husband, Ernest Naranjo. She then made pottery on her own for several years before she began to make pieces for Kevin Naranjo.  Here are two beautiful examples of her pottery.  The bowl on the left is from 1986 and has four Yei figures as the design.  Above them are rain cloud patterns which are connected between each section.  On the right is the classic wide shoulder shaped jar for which Marian is the most famous.  This piece is from the early 1980's and has a realistic hummingbird on one side and a stylized Mimbres bird on the other side.  The etching is very superficial and the bowls are both fired to a reddish-brown coloration.

Left:            Bowl with Yei Figures                2.5"w x 2"h            $200.00

Right:         Jar with Birds                                3.5"w x 2.25"h      $400.00

Paul Naranjo (1960-1993) - Santa Clara 

Paul Naranjo was among the first Santa Clara potters to create full wildlife scenes on his brown fired pottery.  This is an early piece of his work and shows the precision and detail of his work.  There area  male and female deer encircling the piece, surrounded by a forest scene.  In the sky above is a water serpent and at the top is a tightly incised feather design.  Paul's son, Luciano is now continuing in his father's style of pottery.  Paul also taught and inspired Kevin Naranjo in his pottery designs.  This seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Paul's pottery has been featured in numerous books including "Beyond Traditions".

2.25"w x 2.5"h

$450.00 - SOLD

Teresita Naranjo (1919-1999) - Santa Clara NEW

Teresita began making pottery in the 1940's and quickly developed her unique style of deeply carved pottery.  This bowl is from the early 1970's and it is fully polished red and has the traditional cream clay slip in the background area.  It is very deeply carved as the carving is almost an 1/4 inch deep!  The design is a water serpent (avanyu) which encircles the bowl.  Note as well in the second image how the design extends up from the shoulder.  Teresita is considered the first Santa Clara potter to carve outside of a linear pattern. This bowl has been traditionally fired and it is a beautiful coloration.  Teresita was a daughter of Christina Naranjo,  a sister of Mary Cain and the great-aunt to Autumn Borts and Tammy Garcia.  She was already famous for her creative, flowing designs when she was featured in the 1974 Arizona Highways magazine on  Pueblo pottery.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

6"w x 3.75"h                

$1200.00

  Teresita Naranjo (1919-1999) - Santa Clara 

Teresita Naranjo was a daughter of Christina Naranjo,  a sister of Mary Cain and the great-aunt to Autumn Borts and Tammy Garcia.  She was renown for her deep carved pottery and was one of the first to carve outside the linear band designs seen on most Santa Clara pottery.  This is a large and stunning piece of her plainware pottery.  This jar is a true "melon bowl", with the ribs pushed out on the sides of the clay.  There are twelve ribs encircling the jar at an angle and then end at the elongated neck.  The entire surface is fully polished and its a simple but elegant jar.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is a beautiful piece of her fully polished pottery with an striking emphasis on the form!

9"w x 9.25"h                   

$3800.00

   Teresita Naranjo (1919-1999) - Santa Clara 

This is one of the larger pieces we have had by Teresita Naranjo. In addition to the large size, it is also one of her fully carved vessels.  The jar is very deeply carved and has a feather pattern around the neck and a water serpent around the shoulder.  Typical of her work, the design is flowing and changes with the turn of the jar. The firing on this jar is beautiful, with areas which almost look metallic, but an overall dark black coloration.  Teresita was a daughter of Christina Naranjo,  a sister of Mary Cain and the great-aunt to Autumn Borts and Tammy Garcia.  She was renown for her deep carved pottery and was one of the first to carve outside the linear band designs seen on most Santa Clara pottery.  She was already famous for her creative, flowing designs when she was featured in the 1974 Arizona Highways magazine on  Pueblo pottery.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is rare that we see such a significant and classic piece of her fully carved pottery and with such flow of design and form!

9.5"w x 10"h                   

$5500.00 - SOLD

   Elmer Red Starr - Sioux     

Here are two wonderful miniatures from Elmer Red Starr.  He is a Sioux potter who was married to Harriet Tafoya (a sister of Annie Baca) of Santa Clara Pueblo and learned to make pottery from her.  Each piece of his pottery is highly polished and tightly incised, typically with animal motifs. The canister shaped piece on the left is unusual with its brown coloration.  It has rabbits on each side. The seedpot on the right has an incised duck on one side.  The duck is surrounded by a series of feathers etched into the clay and the back has a group of three feathers with a single inset of turquoise.  All three of these pieces are from the 1980's and all are in excellent condition.  Red Starr has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Gallup Ceremonials.

Left:               Canister with Rabbits                                                                 1.25"w x 1.5"h      $150.00

Right:            Seedpot with duck and feather pattern                                  1.5"w x 1.5"h        $150.00   - SOLD

Elmer Red Starr - Sioux     

Elmer Red Starr is a Sioux potter who was married to Harriet Tafoya (a sister of Annie Baca) of Santa Clara Pueblo and learned to make pottery from her.  Each piece of his pottery is highly polished and tightly incised, typically with animal motifs. This red polished jar has a realistic Mt. Goat incised into the clay on one side and a Tewa style sunface on the other side.  Between the two sections there are Tewa and "Sioux" style feathers incised into the clay.  He has inset four pieces of turquoise around the neck.  Red Starr has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Gallup Ceremonials.

3"w x 3.5"h               

$450.00

      Jeff Roller - Santa Clara    

Jeff was among the first Santa Clara potters to use native clay to sculpt and create realistic animals as the lids for his pottery.  He learned to make pottery from his mother, Toni Roller, and he is also a grandson of noted potter, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001).  Here are two pieces of his pottery which exemplify the varied scale and style of his pottery.  On the left the jar has a an elegant shape with a high shoulder and slight neck.  The entire piece is fully polished except for a single band of carved designs, which is matte. The design in the carved section has a mountain and cloud pattern.  Jeff says that it takes as much time to create the lids as it does to make the jar itself!  The complexity and difficulty of the lids is certainly evident in this piece, with the horse intricately sculpted in the clay!  The entire piece has been native fired to a brownish coloration instead of the typical red or black. The matte surface of the horse lid and the brown coloration simply adds to the unique character of this piece! The jar on the right has an eagle head for the lid and the neck descends into carved feathers above the shoulder.  Take a closer look at the lid on this jar, the head and beak of the eagle are incredible in their detail!  Jeff has won numerous awards for his pottery and continues to evolve with more complicated forms and detailed animals. 

Left:        Jar with Horse Lid                6"w x 8"h                $2000.00 - SOLD

Right:     Jar with Eagle Head Lid     2.25"w x 3.75"h        $850.00

       Toni Roller (b. 1935) - Santa Clara    

Toni Roller is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and a sister of noted potters LuAnn Tafoya, Shirley Tafoya, Mary Ester Archuleta and Mela Youngblood.  These two pieces have a wonderful sense of form and design. This tall jar exemplifies both the elegant forms she creates and the striking beauty of her stone polished surfaces.  The jar has a low shoulder and an elongated neck. There are two bear paw carved into the clay and then polished over. The entire jar is fully polished and it is simply stunning in appearance.  On the right is a classic jar with a wide, sharp shoulder and a slight neck. The jar is plain, but perfectly polished.  Toni is committed to the precision of her pottery this piece is a perfect reflection of that commitment.  Toni has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market and she has been featured in several books. 

Left:            Long Neck Jar with Bear Paws            7.5"w x 10.5"h           $1800.00

Right:         Plain Wide Shoulder Jar                      6.25"w x 4.25"h          $900.00

Monica Naranjo Romero - Santa Clara    

Monica Romero is a daughter of noted miniaturist potter Geri Naranjo.  Monica continues in the family tradition of making miniatures.  These three miniatures reflect the variety of he work and the complexity of the designs and forms.  On the left is a small bowl with a fully incised top.  There is a water serpent above a cloud and rain pattern.  The top of the bowl is "black and sienna", as it has been two-toned.  In the center is a little fully polished bear with a heartline made of a raincloud pattern.  On the right is a miniature plate which has an avanyu (water serpent) as the central design around a rain and kiva step medallion.  Monica has won awards for her pottery and continues to develop her own unique style of pottery, while keeping her foundation in the work of her mother.

Left:             Jar with Avanyu & Rain Designs        1.75"w x .75"h             $225.00  

Center:        Bear with Rain Design                          1.25"long x .75"h         $70.00 - SOLD

Right:          Plate w/ Avanyu                                     1.25" diameter             $150.00

        Helen Shupla (1928-1985) - Santa Clara  

While Helen Shupla is best known for her melon bowls, she was also amazingly creative at her carved pottery designs. Here are three classic examples of her carved pottery.  The bowl on the left has a classic style water serpent (avanyu) as the design carved into the clay.   The piece is not just a simple linear pattern, but note the wonderful flow of the back of the avanyu as the bowl is turned!  The complexity of the carving is in complement to the high polish and excellent form to her work.  In the center is a wedding vase with a waters serpent as the design. Note how the handle is twisted and fully polished and she also used a micaceous slip for the surface.  Helen experimented with numerous slips and firing techniques throughout her career.  The bowl on the right is a larger piece of her carved ware. There is a cloud, rain and mountain pattern which encircles the entire piece.  It is a wonderful use of "negative space" carving, as the carved area extends up to the rim and down to the base.  Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is certainly a wonderful example of her creativity as an artist!

Left:        Black Bowl with Avanyu                    5"w x 3.25"h            $800.00

Center:    Wedding Vase with Avanyu             3.25"w x 3.75"h       $375.00 - SOLD

Right:     Bowl with Carved Rain Pattern        7"w x 5"h                  $975.00

   Helen Shupla (1928-1985) - Santa Clara  

Helen Shupla is one of the few potters whose name has become synonymous with a particular style of pottery; the melon bowl.  The ribs on these pieces are pushed out from the inside when the clay is wet.  They are based on a natural form the tend to have a very organic appearance.  This jar is one of her sienna fired jars.  This is an unique color which is created by a double firing.  The jar is first fired black and then fired a second time to a higher temperature to burn off the black and create the sienna coloration.  Helen learned how to do the sienna firing from Popovi Da, who invented and mastered the technique in the late 1960's.   This jar is a beautiful shape with higher round shoulders.  It has very straight appearance to the ribs and a slight rim.  This jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Helen's melon jars are visually beautiful, wonderful to hold and a testament to the ingenuity of an artist!

8"w x 7"h               

$8500.00 - SOLD

     Helen Shupla (1928-1985) - Santa Clara  

Helen Shupla is one of the few potters whose name has become synonymous with a particular style of pottery; the melon bowl.  The ribs on these pieces are pushed out from the inside when the clay is wet.  That is why there is often a slight turn to the ribs, as they are turned when she would twist her hand against the inside of the clay.  As they are based on a natural form the tend to have a very organic appearance.  On the left is a large melon which is a deep red coloration.  It has a bit lower shoulder and a more elongated neck.  On the right is a larger, stunning black fired jar.  It has a dark black coloration and the polish has a glassy appearance.  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Helen's melon jars are visually beautiful, wonderful to hold and a testament to the ingenuity of an artist!

Left:        Large Red Melon Jar               9"w x 7"h                $8000.00

Right:     Large Black Melon Jar           8.5"w x 6.5"h           $6500.00

     Mary Singer (b. 1936) - Santa Clara   

Mary Singer is a daughter of potter Pablita Chavarria and the sister of noted potters Reycita Naranjo and Elizabeth Naranjo.  Mary is well known for her large sized pottery and very complicated carved designs. On the left is one of her engagement baskets with a twisted handle and a carved avanyu as the design.  The entire piece, including the handle, is fully polished.  The bowl on the right also has a water serpent (avanyu) as the central design encircling the piece. It is deeply carved into the clay and the body of the avanyu is very intricate in its design.  The polishing is even and both pieces are fired a dark black which is typical of her work.  Mary has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market.

Left:        Engagement Basket               5"w x 6"h                                $450.00    

Right:     Bowl with Avanyu                5"w x 4.25"h                            $650.00

Ramona Sisneros was known for her deeply carved pottery. The designs, such as the avanyu on this bowl, were very creative in their style.  On this bowl, the avanyu touches the rim and seems to flow out of the bottom line of the design.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

5.25"w x 3"h

$200.00

Agapita Tafoya (1904-1959) - Santa Clara  

Agapita was the wife of noted  potter Camilio Tafoya and the mother of Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf.  Agapita created most of her pottery from the 1930's to the early 1950's.  She worked in all styles including polychrome, black-on-black and carved pottery.  It is typically her carved pottery for which she achieved the most recognition.  This is one of her engagements baskets with a carved rain cloud and lightning design around the body of the piece.  The shape has four clay handles which intertwine at the top.  The pieces is in good condition with not restoration or repair and a few small dings and a slip crack on the top of one handle. However, it is an unusual shape for her pottery and an early use of this distinctive form.  It is not often that we get her work in the gallery so it is always interesting to see what styles and designs she used on her work.

4"w x 5.5"h

$200.00

Camilio Tafoya was a brother of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo and a son of Sara Fina Tafoya.  He was also the father of Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf.  When he began to make pottery in the 1940's and 1950's, he made deeply carved pottery and focused on larger sized vessels.  This large wedding vase on the left is one of his classic styles with a sun face design carved on both sides of the vase.  Note how the design is carved into the "negative space" as opposed to the typical linear pattern designs used by many other potters of the same time period.  The shape of the handles is distinctive on his pottery, with the indented and tapered spouts.  The wedding vase is in good condition with no chips, cracks restoration or repair. There are slight scratches on the surface.  On the right is one of his bowls from around 1970.  At this time he was no longer making the larger pieces of pottery, and was embarking on the "new" style of sgraffito pottery.  This bowl is highly polished black with a two-tone sienna rim.  On the rim is an incised water serpent.  The incised design is a bit cruder than his later pottery, but certainly a reflection of the innovative early time period.  This smaller bowl is in excellent condition.  Both pieces are signed on the bottom in the clay.  These are certainly two distinctive pieces of pottery by this important Santa Clara potter.

Left:        Large Carved Wedding Vase with Sun Design          12"w x 16"h            $2800.00

Right:     Black and Sienna Avanyu Bowl                                    5"w x 3"h                $800.00

Camilio Tafoya is the father of Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf and the brother of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo.  He began making carved pottery and then in the 1970's started to create his own beautiful miniatures with incised designs.  The seedpot on the left has a classic "feathered" water serpent as the design which encircles the entire piece.  It is an early incised piece from 1973.  Note in the second image the feathers on the back of the head.  The jar in the center is a classic water jar shape.  It was made in 1975 and has 32 incised feathers as the design, encircling the jar. The third piece is a small seedpot with two shields as the design. The holes in the seedpot are the centers of the shields.  This small piece is from 1974. 

All three pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  They are wonderful examples of how his work changed throughout his pottery career.

Left:               Seedpot with Avanyu                               2.5"w x 1.75"h        $1000.00

Center:          Red Jar with 32 Feathers                           2.25"w x 2.5"h        $900.00

Right:            Seedpot with two Shields                        2.25"w x 1.25"h      $700.00

Camilio Tafoya's name has become synonymous with the intricate miniature sgraffito pottery he began creating in the 1970's.  This seedpot is from 1982 and it is fully polished.  It has a fish on one side and a bird on the other side.  The entire piece is fully designed.  Separating the two medallions are incised leaves which are highlighted with a green clay slip. This seedpot is among the most detailed of his work with a tighter than normal precision to his designs.  This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

2"w x 2"h          

$1200.00

Camilio Tafoya was a brother of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo, and also the father of Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf.  Camilio made larger, carved vessels in the 1950's, and in the 1970's, was among the first to begin etching their designs into the clay, using the "sgraffito" process.  Here are two seedpots from the mid to late 1980's.  The seedpot on the left has a series of hummingbirds incised into the clay. They are flying around some flowers and the final images is from the top.  The second seedpot is larger and has a raccoon as the central figure, surrounded by a rabbit and magpie.  This piece is from the late 1980's and has less polished surface and more matte area.  The additional colors on both pieces are derived from natural clay slips.  Both pieces are in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Camilio's pottery is certainly an important part of the history of Santa Clara pottery and a beautiful addition to a collection.

Left:        Seedpot with Hummingbirds   1.5"w x 1.75"h         $1000.00

Right:     Seedpot w/ Raccoon & Rabbit   1.5"w x 1.75"h        $1000.00

Cresencia Tafoya was the matriarch of a family of potters including Harriet Tafoya, Annie Baca, Pauline Martinez and Mark Tafoya.  Her work was distinctive with a high polish and tightly painted black-on-black designs.  This wedding vase is stunning with a high polish and her classic style avanyu encircling the body of the piece.  While she was known for her miniatures this is among her larger pieces of pottery.  This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

6.5"w x 8"h       

$800.00

Lee Tafoya was the only son of noted potter Margaret Tafoya to make pottery.  He often worked with his wife, Betty, on their pottery.  Their children include Linda Tafoya, who is also a well-known potter.  When Lee and Betty worked together, Lee would make and carve the pottery while Betty would polish the surface.  This wonderful canister has a dragonfly design carved on each side. It has been highly fired as the coloration is near gunmetal metallic in appearance.  The jar was made in 1978 and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is not often that we find pieces with both signatures and this is a beautiful example of their classic pottery!

4.25"w x 4.5"h

     Linda Tafoya - Santa Clara   

Linda Tafoya has created a very distinctive style of carved pottery.  She learned to make pottery from her parents, Lee and Betty Tafoya and she is a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  Here are three of her very distinctive pieces of pottery.  On the left is a bowl with two carved hummingbirds. The are around the birds is also carved and has a micaceous clay slip which sparkles in contrast to the rest of the polished surface of the bowl.  Note as well how she rounds out the body of her birds which gives them a very dimensional appearance.  The bowl in the center is fully polished and has five swirl melon ribs extending from the mouth to the base.  The remainder of the piece is fully polished.  The bowl on the right has a carved avanyu around the shoulder.   Note the square face of the avanyu which is stylistically very similar to that of her father.  Below the Avanyu are a series of alternating groups of 36 polished and micaceous feathers.  Linda has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and was also on the front cover of New Mexico Magazine in August, 2006

Left:        Bowl with Avanyu and Feather Pattern            5"w x 4"h            $1800.00

Center:   Carved Half Melon Swirl Bowl                          5.25"w x 3.75"h   $1000.00

Right:     Bowl w/ 2 Hummingbirds                                   3.5"w x 3"h          $1200.00

Linda Tafoya-Sanchez - Santa Clara   

This is an amazing bowl from Linda. It is not often that we see her create all red pieces (which are more difficult to polish and fire) but also to create a piece of such complexity.  The bowl is fully carved around the top and bottom with a feather pattern. Each feather is perfectly carved and they are individually polished.  Around the center are eight turtle, each with a different design and each fully polished.  Each turtle has a different design carved onto its back.  The area surrounding the turtles is a micaceous clay slip.  In addition Linda has created a lid for the bowl.  There is a single turtle carved on the lid and it has an inset abalone shell for the eye and the "handle" is made from rawhide so that it lifts off easily from the vessel.  The precision of her carving and the complementing highly polished surface are stunning.  She learned to make pottery from her parents, Lee and Betty Tafoya and she is a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.    Linda has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market including "Best of Pottery, was also on the front cover of New Mexico Magazine in August, 2006 and featured in the Indian Market Magazine in 2011.

8.5"w x 6"h        

$5700.00 - SOLD

   LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

This is an unique piece for LuAnn.  It is a classic water jar shape, but she has carved swirled ribs into the neck and they extend from the rim to the shoulder. The entire piece is fully polished and the carving in the neck simply adds to the visual effect of the curve of the piece.  The jar has been traditionally fired to a beautiful, deep red. As well, few are able to polish large areas with her skill and achieve such a luminescent shine!  LuAnn has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her work can be found in the permanent collection of numerous museums around the country. 

6.5"w x 8.25"h

$2000.00 - SOLD

  LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

This carved bowl is a wonderful form from LuAnn.  It is oval in shape and the rim has been carved in to a scalloped design and fully polished.  There is a band of carving around the shoulder with a buffalo design on the sides.  On the longer sides there is a sun and moon pattern with a cloud design.  The remainder of the piece is fully polished and a stunning red coloration!  As well, few are able to polish large areas with her skill and achieve such a high shine!  LuAnn has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her work can be found in the permanent collection of numerous museums around the country. 

7"w x 7"h

$2500.00

     LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

As LuAnn Tafoya is renown for her large scale pottery, it is rare and exciting when she finishes smaller pieces of her pottery.  Here is a classic wedding vase by LuAnn.  It is polished red and has a classic buffalo design carved into the clay.  The red surface is highly polished and a perfect contrast to the cream clay surface surrounding the geometric patterns.  This is a pattern which is often seen on work by her mother, Margaret Tafoya.  LuAnn consistently creates a wonderful symmetry to her pottery form and the complement of the high polish and classic designs are simply perfect!    LuAnn has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her work can be found in the permanent collection of numerous museums around the country. 

9"w x 13"h        

$2800.00

     LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

This wide shoulder bow is a classic shape from LuAnn Tafoya.  It has a narrow base and a wide shoulder.  The design carved into the clay is a water serpent (avanyu) which encircles the entire piece.  It is difficult to create this form using traditional Santa Clara clay.  The bold and intricate carving is perfectly placed on the shoulder of this stunning bowl.  Note as well how she has even polished the inside of the lip!  As well, LuAnn is renowned for her highly polished surfaces, which seem to shine like glass.  This bowl is no exception to her skill at polishing.  LuAnn has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her work can be found in the permanent collection of numerous museums around the country. 

14"w x 6"h

$5500.00

   Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  NEW

It is not often that we come across red pottery by Margaret Tafoya.  Most of her redware was made between the 1960's and 1980's.  This wonderful bowl is from the mid 1980's.  It is very tightly carved with a single band around the neck and then another band of carved imagery. There are cloud, rain, wind and water designs.  The entire bowl is fully polished and fired a wonderful red coloration.  There is the traditional cream clay slip in the background.  The bowl is signed, "Margaret Tafoya" in the clay on the bottom.   This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Margaret's work can be found in numerous museums around the world and she has been featured in numerous books, including "Born of Fire" and "The Art of Clay".  While her pottery is an important addition to any collection, finding her red ware with such intricate carving is always exciting!

7.5"w x 5.5"h

$5800.00

    Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  NEW

In the 1980's, Margaret Tafoya, then in her 80's, made some of the smaller pieces in her career.  This bowl is from the mid 1980's and has a wonderful design which is carved into four panels.  The imagery is the wind (the angular lines) blowing over the clouds.  The area surrounding the cloud designs has the traditional cream clay slip  The bowl has a lighter red coloration, which may be from either the slip or the firing.  The rim and base are both fully polished.  The bowl is signed on the bottom, "Margaret Tafoya".  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The bowl is signed, "Margaret Tafoya" in the clay on the bottom.  Margaret's work can be found in numerous museums around the world and she has been featured in numerous books, including "Born of Fire" and "The Art of Clay".   She was the matriarch of a family of amazing potters, including Nathan Youngblood, Nancy Youngblood, Toni Roller, LuAnn Tafoya and Daryl Whitegeese!  It is exciting to think that the next generation, her great-grandchildren, are now being potters and developing their own careers.

6.25"w x 5.25"h

$3800.00

Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  

Margaret Tafoya was one of the most influential potters at Santa Clara Pueblo, as she was part of the change of pottery from a folk art to fine art. This large bowl is a beautiful example of her pottery.  It has a low shoulder and it is fully carved with design in a central band.  The design on this bowl is more complicated, with varied kiva step and lightning patterns encircling the entire piece.  The use of the kiva step design is representative in Santa Clara of the Kiva, or building, where all the religious and many social ceremonies begin.  It's also always interesting to note that the room in Margaret's house where she worked on pottery looks out at one of the kivas on the pueblo!  The polish on the bowl is perfect, with a very high shine. This piece is a perfect representation of her style from the 1970's, at the apex of her career.  It has an intricately carved design with clean lines which is complemented by a beautifully stone polished surface.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, "Margaret Tafoya".  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Margaret's work can be found in numerous museums around the world and she has been featured in numerous books, including "Born of Fire" and "The Art of Clay".  While her pottery is an exciting addition to any collection, finding larger pieces with such complicated imagery are always exciting!

9"w x 7.5"h

$8000.00 - SOLD

"Born of Fire:  The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya"   by Charles S. King

"King has made himself a scholar in pursuit of an understanding of how traditional ways of life, changing times and one woman's vision are so tightly bound. . . . Born of Fire is a handsome introduction to and reminder of the exquisite pottery of Margaret Tafoya."

-The Bloomsbury Review - 2008

Regarded as one of the great masters of Pueblo ceramics, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) is known for her trademark large black polished ceramics, decorated with traditional imagery of rain clouds, water serpents, bear paws, and other symbols. An award-winning artist, she was recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, and a National Heritage Fellowship.

This book is the first complete biography of Margaret Tafoya's life.  It is divided into decades, giving the reader a deeper understanding of her life and pottery covering nearly 100 years.  It is also the first book to help identify and date her pottery thorough the use of her signatures.  There are additional biographies on Virginia Ebelacker, Richard Ebelacker, Lee Tafoya, Linda Tafoya, Jennie Trammel, Mela Youngblood, Nathan Youngblood, Nancy Youngblood, Toni Roller, Jeff Roller, LuAnn Tafoya, Daryl Whitegeese, Mary Ester Archuleta and Shirley Tafoya.  The photography of the pottery in this book is exceptional.  Personal narratives by family members and family photographs throughout the book create a wonderful sense of her humanity and artistic accomplishments.  Above to the right are images from the current "Born of Fire" exhibition at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh, PA.

Hardcover, 160 pages

$45.00 

Ray Tafoya (1956-1994) - Santa Clara   NEW

Ray Tafoya was an innovator in incised pottery with his use of Mimbres designs and larger plain surfaces with highlighted designs. He was a brother of Paul Speckled Rock and Kenneth Tafoya.  He was a grandson of Severa Tafoya, the husband of Emily Tafoya and the father of Jennifer Moquino.   He was known for his incised miniature pottery with designs highlighted by additional clay slips.  Here are three pieces which reflect the variety of his work throughout his career.  On the left is a black seedpot with a Mimbres inspired mountain lion as the design encompassing the entire top of the piece. There are additional traditional designs around the remainder of the piece. In the center is a seedpot which has been polished a very deep red and has a Mimbres style buffalo as the design.  It is fully designed and there are additional clay slips used throughout to accentuate the imagery.   The seedpot on the right has a bear as the central animal image. There are additional prayer feather and medicine designs on the surrounding sides.  All three pieces were made in 1986 and all are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Over the course of his career, Ray won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and other events.  It is a wonderfully detailed and complicated piece of his pottery! 

Left:            Black Seedpot with Mt. Lion                1.5" long x 1"w x 1.25"h                            $500.00

Center:       Red Seedpot with Buffalo                     1.5"w x 1.25"h                                            $400.00

Right:         Black Seedpot with Bear                        1.5" long x 1"w x 1.25"h                           $500.00

Sara Fina Tafoya (1863 - 1949) - Santa Clara  

Sara Fina Tafoya is among the most renown of the early Santa Clara potters.  She is the matriarch of several families of potters, included among her children were Camilio Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo.  Sara Fina is considered on of the first potters to begin "carving" into the clay to create designs in her pottery, beginning in 1924.  This bowl is a later example of her pottery, most likely from the early 1940's.   It has a fluted rim and it polished with a slip on the outside, to create a higher shine.  It is also polished with water on the inside and in the photo, the polishing marks are visible.  This is one of the few pieces of Sara Fina's work which is signed.  It is signed in the clay "Sara Fina Tafoya  Santa Clara Pueblo".  While the bottom is polished, there is a strip of matte clay slip where it is signed.  It is thought that on the pieces of her work which have a signature, they were signed by her son Manuel.   Although there is some wear on the bottom, the signature is still visible as it was signed into the clay.  This bowl is in good condition, with some slight wear on the rim, some rough areas near the base and a small slip crack.  It is always exciting to find historically important pieces like this bowl, as there are so few signed pieces of her work in existence!  This bowl is definitely an important addition to any collection!

8.75"w x 4.5"h

$4500.00           

Shirley "Cactus Blossom" Tafoya (1947-2010) - Santa Clara   NEW

Shirley Tafoya began making pottery full-time in 1971-2.  She decided to concentrate on making miniature versions of the large vessels her mother, Margaret Tafoya, was know to make. Shirley would work to make them as small, thin walled and elegant in form as possible.  This cylinder is a striking piece of her pottery, and one of her larger sized vessels!  The piece has a water serpent (avanyu) carved into the clay and encircling the piece. The rim is carved with two kiva step designs.  The entire piece is fully polished with her typical high shine.  Throughout the years, Shirley won "Best of Miniature Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market numerous times.  She was involved in the Pueblo religious and Kiva activities, so she did not make a lot of pottery over the years.  This complicated piece was made in 2001. The picture of Shirley is from one of our Gallery Shows with Shirley and LuAnn in 2001.

2.75"w x 4.25"h                     

$2200.00

Michele Tapia-Browning - Santa Clara  

Michele is the daughter of LuAnn Tafoya and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  It is very infrequent that Michele makes any pottery.  This bowl is carved with a classic rain and cloud pattern, similar in carving style to that of her mother.  It is highly polished and beautifully made with a perfect round form and even walls.  Michele has spent more time working on her digital photography, incorporating images of Pueblo dances into her work.  She is definitely talented and we are very pleased to have this beautiful bowl in the gallery.

5.5"w x 5.5"h

$1000.00

         Minnie Vigil (b. 1931) - Santa Clara   NEW

Minnie Vigil is a daughter of Petra Gutierrez and a sister to noted potters Gloria Garcia (GoldenRod), Thelma Talachy and Lois Gutierrez.  She is known for her polychrome pottery and the use of numerous clay slips to create the colors.   The bowl on the left is polished below the shoulder and painted with a wind pattern.  Above the shoulder it is matte and has a feather pattern.  Note the various colored clay slips used for the tips of the feathers!  The seedpot in the center is fully polished red and the design is painted on the highly polished surface.  There are two medallions with a feather and rain cloud pattern.  Opposite are two medallions which are polychrome with a rain cloud pattern.  The jar on the left is a beautiful shape with a slightly turned out rim. The high polish is a perfect contrast for the black and blue-grey colored slip used to create the rain cloud design.  Her pottery is a wonderful balance of form and tightly painted design.  Minnie has won numerous awards at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market but today makes few pieces of pottery.

Left:                   Polychrome Bowl with  Feather Pattern                      3"w x 2.5"h          $175.00

Center:              Seedpot with Feather and Cloud Medallions            3"w x 2"h             $200.00

Right:                Red Jar with Rain Cloud Patterns                                3.25"w x 3"h        $225.00

   Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara   NEW

This smaller jar is an elegant shape from Daryl. It has perfectly formed body and a short, slightly turned out rim.  Note how he has polished inside the neck and also the sharp edge to the rim! It is surprising that it didn't chip during the polishing process as he attempted to create such a sharp edge.  Daryl is commitment to continuing the traditions of Santa Clara pottery are evident in this jar.  He is the son of noted potter LuAnn Tafoya, and the grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  Daryl has won numerous awards for his pottery over the past several years, including the "Utilitarian Pottery" special award at Santa Fe Indian Market. He is certainly a potter to watch!

6.5"w x 5.5"h

$2500.00

   Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara   NEW

Spectacular!  This is an amazing piece from Daryl.  It is an oval bowl and the outside is carved with a classic water serpent (avanyu) as the design.  The bowl itself is a wonderful shape with an elongated form and an undulating rim. However, it is the inside which is so spectacular as it is also fully polished!  Most potters avoid polishing the inside AND outside of pieces, as very often the extra wetness from the slips will cause a piece to crack.  Take a closer look at the images above and note the crisp lines of his carving.  They have an amazing tactile feel, as the edges almost seem sharp to the touch.  Daryl is the son of noted potter LuAnn Tafoya, and the grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  He began making pottery about nine years ago and has committed himself to creating classic Santa Clara style pottery.  He has won numerous awards for his pottery over the past several years, and this jar won an "Honorable Mention" at the Heard Museum Indian Market in 2010. He has also won the "Utilitarian Pottery" special award at Santa Fe Indian Market. He is certainly a potter to watch!

11" long x 9"w x 4"h

$4200.00

   Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara  

This jar is the first time that Daryl has finished a classic water for the gallery.  It is fully polished to a glassy appearance!  However, it is the shape of this jar which is what is really so stunning.  Daryl has taken a classic form and given it a very personalized variation in shape.  The water jar has a double rainbow shoulder, but note how both ridges have a sharp edge.  As well, the rim of the jar has an equally sharp edge and it is polished down into the neck.  These variations are very distinctive from the rounded shoulders seen on the water jars by Margaret Tafoya or LuAnn Tafoya.  As well, there is a single bear paw which in on one side of the neck on the jar.  Daryl is continuing to make larger pieces each year, and push ahead with these fully polished pieces giving him a distinctive place as one of the few Santa Clara potters able to fully polish larger pieces. Don't forget that when a piece like this water jar is polished with a stone, the potter can't stop and the entire piece has to be fully polished at one sitting!  Daryl is the son of noted potter LuAnn Tafoya, and the grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  He began making pottery about nine years ago and has committed himself to creating classic Santa Clara style pottery.  He has won numerous awards for his pottery over the past several years, and this jar won an "Honorable Mention" at the Heard Museum Indian Market in 2010. He has also won the "Utilitarian Pottery" special award at Santa Fe Indian Market. He is certainly a potter to watch!

8"w x 10.5"h

$4500.00 - SOLD

    Lucy Yearflower - Santa Clara  

Lucy Yearflower is a sister-in-law of Joseph Lonewolf and Grace Medicine Flower.  She was known for her deep carved pottery and each piece has a flower etched into the piece as part of the design.  This seedpot has an avanyu carved into the clay, encircling the entire piece.  There is a flower on the top, which is highlighted with a  red clay slip.  Note as well in the background area how she has also etched into the clay.  This seedpot is from the 1980's, as Lucy now no longer makes much pottery but mostly jewelry.  The piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

2.5"w x 2.25"h

$400.00

Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

Nancy Youngblood began her career making stunning miniature pottery. This is one of the earliest carved pieces of her work we have had in the gallery.  It is from 1974, so it would have been made when she was just 19 years old!  The jar has a deeply carved avanyu as the design, encircling the bowl.  The body of the avanyu is complicated in its style, similar to how her work would evolve over the years.  The jar is in excellent condition.  Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  When she first began making pottery, she started with miniatures, focusing on creating very intricate form and tightly carved designs.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

2.5"w x 2.5"h

$800.00

   Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

This is a classic melon ribbed bowl from Nancy Youngblood.  It is amazing that for a piece with 32 ribs swirling around from the mouth to the base, how tightly they are carved into the clay and the precision of the edges.  The edges are very sharp and so thin, it is surprising that they could be stone polished!  Note as well the shape, as it is a narrow base and a round shoulder, a very beautiful form for her work. The high shine from the polishing and the angles of the ribs reflect the light beautifully.  Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya and the mother of Chris Youngblood.  When she first began making pottery, she started with miniatures, focusing on creating very intricate form and tightly carved designs.  She was inspired to begin making the swirl melon bowls when she saw one by her great-uncle Camilio Tafoya.  This bowl is amazingly polished to a high, glossy shine and is in perfect condition.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

4.5"w x 3.25"h

$9500.00

Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

Nancy Youngblood is famous for her "melon bowls", where each rib is carved into the clay and then fully polished.  While most of her pieces are bowl or seedpot shaped, this spectacular jar is a classic double shoulder water jar form.  It is an elegant shape and she has carved sixteen ribs at a swirl into the lower half of the jar. There are sixteen ribs also encircling the neck and extending up from the shoulder.  However, it is not just the elegance of the form which is exciting, but how she has carved the ribs to extend into the mouth of the jar!  It is also fully polished into the neck, which is always technically difficult.  This jar is a beautiful blending of a classic form with her unique style of carving.  The polish is exceptional and perfectly highlights the deeply carved ribs.  Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  When she first began making pottery, she started with miniatures, focusing on creating very intricate form and tightly carved designs.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

4"w x 5"h

$8500.00 - SOLD

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

Nathan Youngblood began making pottery in the early 1970's and began making larger, classic shaped vessels. This is a phenomenal smaller piece of his pottery. It is a classic style double shoulder water jar with a long neck. The carved design has been scaled down so that it is matching to the size of the jar.  Around the neck is a water serpent.  Around the body of the jar is "walking Bear Paw" and "key hole" design.  The key hole pattern was inspired by the  door ways in pre-historic buildings. In the third image above note the small matte square, which is incised with a rain pattern.  What is truly remarkable about this jar is the color.  It is fully polished tan.   The tan is achieved by stone polishing the surface of the bowl with water, not a clay slip as is used to create the red or the black.  This is technically one of the most difficult accomplishments in Pueblo pottery, as the tan can appear "streaky" if it is not polished to a high enough shine and it will also absorb more of the smoke during the firing, which can alter the coloration.  Nathan learned to polish his pieces tan from his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya and he is one of the few potters who is able to consistently create such a stunning result! Nathan has been written about in books including The Art of Clay, Beyond Traditions and 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery.  His work is in the White House Collection of American Crafts, the only Native American Indian artist to be represented in the collection. 

4"w x 4.75"h               

$4200.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara  

This is a dynamic piece from Nathan Youngblood which reveals his incredible skill as a potter.  This is his three part "Banded Earth" cylinder jar.  The shape of the cylinder is among the most difficult to create in the coiling technique, as you are building upward and not outward or inward!  This amazing piece has a base which has a red polished walking bear paw design.  The central column has three bands of design. The top band is cloud and rain designs, the center band is the water serpent and the bottom band is series of earth motifs, such as mountains.  On the top is a flat lid which is carved with a rising sun in tan and a cloud pattern in red.  The vessel as a whole seems to tell the story of a day in the life of the earth, with the rising sun, the cloud and rain over the mountains and the avanyu and bear tracks keeping track of the people.  Again, simply amazing!  The jar is a classic use of his "tri-color" style of red, tan and buff, combining matte and polished surfaces.  Interestingly, the tan polished area is technically the most difficult color to achieve in Santa Clara pottery as no slip is used, only water, and then it is stone polished.  After a piece is fired Nathan then scrapes down the background area and sides of the carving to create the striking visual contrast of between the matte and polished surfaces. He learned to make pottery from his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and continues in the family legacy of extraordinary pottery created using traditional methods.  He has been written about in books including The Art of Clay, Beyond Traditions and 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery.  His work is in the White House Collection of American Crafts, the only Native American Indian artist to be represented in the collection. 

4.5"w x 8.5"h

$9800.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

Breathtaking!  This jar is one of those pieces by Nathan which reflects his exceptional ability as a potter.  This is one of those pieces which must be held.  From the round shoulder, the slightly turned out lip, the polish inside the neck and the slight indention in the base to the smoothly polished surface, this jar is a tactile marvel.  Taking a step back, the jar itself is beautifully proportioned and speaks of the classic water jars made by Nathan's grandmother, Margaret Tafoya. The double shoulder with the rounded edge and the bear paw on the neck, all remind the viewer of the past.  Nathan has put his own touch on this jar with the deeply carved designs.  On the neck, opposite the bear paw, is a cloud formation. Below the shoulder, there is the "walking bear paw" design (directly below the bear print in the neck!) and then the design continues with cloud and rain imagery.  The firing on the jar is perfect, with a "water-like" appearance to the shine, which is a result of both amazing polishing but also perfect timing in the outdoor firing!  Nathan uses native clay for his pottery and also traditionally fires each piece.  IHe learned to make pottery from his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and continues in the family legacy of extraordinary pottery created using traditional methods.  He has been written about in books including The Art of Clay, Beyond Traditions and 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery.  His work is in the White House Collection of American Crafts, the only Native American Indian artist to be represented in the collection. 

7"w x 7.75"h

$9400.00