Annie Baca is a daughter of noted potter Cresencia Tafoya, and the sister of Harriet Tafoya and Pauline Martinez.  Annie is known for her miniature pottery, which is beautifully formed, highly polished and tightly painted.  The bowl on the left has a rain and flower pattern as the main design, which is painted onto the surface of the bowl.  The bowl on the right has a feather and geometric pattern as the design.  The precision of the painting is in perfect complement to the sharp edge of the form and the high polish.  Annie has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and Gallup Ceremonials. 

Left:             Bowl with Flower Pattern            2.25"w x 1.75"h        $100.00   - SOLD

Right:          Bowl with Feather Pattern           4"w x 2.5"h               $250.00

Left:            Seedpot w/ Sunface                2.25"w x 3.5"h                    $400.00

Right:        Plate w/ Hummingbirds         4.25" diameter                    $650.00 - SOLD

     Jason Ebelacker (b.1980) - Santa Clara   NEW

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

$850.00

     Jerome Ebelacker (b. 1977)- Santa Clara   NEW

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 jar is a beautiful example of his use of form and polish.  The jar is based on the classic storage jars, with a high shoulder. The piece has a wonderful form and a a fantastic polish! There are two bear paws carved into the clay, one on each side of the jar. Jerome continues to follow his family's tradition of using native clay, stone polishing his pottery and native firing each piece.  This jar is simply elegant in person, as it seems to blend both the modern and and classic together.   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! 

7.75"w x 6.75"h

$1800.00

Nicholas Ebelacker (b.1998) - Santa Clara  

We are very pleased to have a piece of pottery a new generation of the Tafoya family.  Nick Ebelacker is the son of Jerome Ebelacker and he is only 11 years old!  Last year he made some smaller pieces for Indian Market and this year he said that if he was going to spend the time, they might as well be larger!  This water jar is a classic shape and very well formed.  It is has a wonderful polish and reflects the tradition of his illustrious ancestors Virginia Ebelacker and Margaret Tafoya.  We certainly hope to see more pieces from this young potter in the future.

5.5"w x 6"h

$300.00 - SOLD

  Richard Ebelacker - Santa Clara  

Richard Ebelacker is a son of noted potter Virginia Ebelacker and a grandson of Margaret Tafoya. While he is renown for his large scale pottery, being one of the few to make storage jars which almost reach three feet in height, this is one of the smallest pieces of his pottery we have ever had!  It is a classic double shoulder water jar with bear paws carved into the neck.  The jar is highly polished and fired with a high firing, creating a "gunmetal" appearance to the surface.  Richard has won awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market every year he has entered his work.  He is among the most sought after of Santa Clara potters and work of this elegance certainly reflects the calibre of his art!

4"w x 4"h

$700.00

Richard Ebelacker - Santa Clara  

Throughout his pottery career, Richard Ebelacker has made an impact with his pottery due to the size and the commitment to traditional forms and designs.  This jar is a wonderful shape with a tall shoulder and a slightly turned out rim.  The design is deeply carved into the clay and it is a cloud and rain pattern which encircles the shoulder.  The jar is highly polished which further highlights the form and the design.  Richard is a son of noted potter Virginia Ebelacker and a grandson of Margaret Tafoya. Richard has won awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market every year he has entered his work.  He is among the most sought after of Santa Clara potters and work of this elegance certainly reflects the calibre of his art!

7.5"w x 8"h

$2500.00 - SOLD

    Virginia Ebelacker (1925-2001) - Santa Clara   NEW

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

$1800.00

  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.  As a child, Virginia remembered helping her grandmother, Sara Fina Tafoya, polish her large storage jars.  She worked in Los Alamos and only began making pottery full time in the late 1960's.  She quickly developed a reputation for her large scale pottery and amazing even polish!  This wedding vase is a classic example of her pottery with a rounded body and elongated spouts which square off at the ends.  There are bear paws on each side, carved into the clay and polished.  The vase is in near perfect condition, with one small chip on one of the necks of the vase which has been repaired.  Work of hers is always a wonderful find and an important addition to any collection!

8"w x 11.5"h

$2500.00

Jody Folwell - Santa Clara  

It is not often that Jody makes miniatures.  However, we are very pleased to have such a stunning smaller jar by this renown potter.  The jar has a low, wide shoulder and an asymmetrical rim, which is a classic shape for her pottery. While it is plain, it has a highly stone polished surface.  The coloration is derived from the firing, with colors ranging from black to red.  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".  She is currently part of the outstanding exhibit at the Heard Museum, "Mothers and Daughters".

3"w x 3.25"h

$400.00 - SOLD

   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 highly polished and fired a dark brownish-red.  The design is a series of three birds etched into the clay.  Around the rim are a series of traditional style eagle feathers and in the background of the piece it is fully incised with "x's".  However, take a closer look at the birds, they have each caught one of the "x's" in their beaks! The depth of the incising makes it almost appear as if the "x's" have been pulled off the bowl itself!  The jar on the right is matte slipped with a white-ish clay. The lizard is in relief on the front of the piece and the tail encircles the rim.  The lizard has been slipped with a green clay.  The area around the lizard is fully incised with water designs.  It is a wonderful piece which explores both the dimensionality of her forms and designs.  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:        Bowl with Incised Bird            4.5"w x 4"h            $2000.00

Right:     Jar with Relief Lizard               3.75"w x 4"h          $900.00

Jody Folwell - Santa Clara  

This stunning bowl by Jody Folwell is a signature of her style and impact on Santa Clara pottery.  In the 1970's, she was among the first at Santa Clara to begin firing her pottery red and then placing the cow manure directly onto the top of the bowl to give it a black rim.  This seemingly simple alternation was met with resistance at the Pueblo at the time, yet today it is a style which is not only seen there but at various other pueblos. This bowl is fully polished and a fantastic form with a wide shoulder and asymmetrical rim.  The various colors of black are derived from the end of the firing when the bowl is still hot and the smoke from the manure placed against creates the reduction process which turns it black.  Note in the first image there are also small dots of black, created by placing hot ash on the surface of the bowl.  The final result is both elegant and simple, yet inspiring.   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".  She is currently part of the outstanding exhibit at the Heard Museum, "Mothers and Daughters".

8"w x 5.5"h

$1800.00

Jody Folwell - Santa Clara 

 Jody is a daughter of Rose Naranjo and the mother of potters Polly Rose Folwell and Susan Folwell. She is renown for her creative imagery and firing techniques.  This jar is polished from the rim to the shoulder and then left matte for the remainder of the piece.  The rim is asymmetrical, which is very typical of her forms.  The design on the front of the jar has a water serpent on one side and an Asian style dragon on the other.  Jody has traveled to Asia numerous times and been inspired by their art.  This jar combines to the styles together, reflecting on how similar the imagery is across cultural barriers. Jody's 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".  She is currently part of the outstanding exhibit at the Heard Museum, "Mothers and Daughters".

9.5"w x 9"h

$2900.00

Polly Rose Folwell - Santa Clara  

Polly is a daughter of Jody Folwell and a sister of Susan Folwell. This jar is a classic example of her pottery with 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

$950.00

   Polly Rose Folwell - Santa Clara   NEW

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.  The tall jar on the left 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.  The bowl on the right is from 1980, and is a very early example of her pottery.  It has red and brown polished ellipses on the top of the piece and the remainder of the bowl is rag polished brown.  It is a simple yet beautiful bowl.  Polly has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" at the Heard Museum Market.

Left:            Black Cylinder Jar with Feather Pattern            5.5"w x 10.5"h            $1000.00

Right:         Tri-Color Bowl with Eclipse Design                   8"w x 5"h                    $850.00

    Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    

Susan Folwell continues to be one of the great innovators among today's Pueblo potters.  Her work has a vibrancy in color and design which is always exciting.  Here are two of her smaller pieces.  The smaller bowl on the left has a micaceous clay slip polished over the entire surface of the piece. The rim is carved and the remainder of the piece is fully incised.  The central medallion has a very intricate shell while the other two medallions have starfish.  The remainder of the piece is fully incised with her signature "x's".  The second bowl has a beautifully incised mosaic pattern encompassing most of the bowl.  Around the shoulder is a stylized avanyu, which weaves in and out of the mosaic pattern.  The coloration and complexity of design is simply elegnat on this piece!  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:        Bowl with Incised Shells            4"w x 3"h                    $500.00 - SOLD

Right:     Bowl with Mosaic Avanyu         6"w x 4.5"h                 $1200.00 - SOLD

Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    

This is an intricately incised and painted vessel by Susan Folwell.  The jar itself is fully polished and has series of butterflies as the central design.  The encircle the entire piece and each one has different incised designs on the wings.  Connecting the various butterflies are a series of classic Santa Clara patterns.  The entire base is also fully polished  and incised with "x's", a Folwell family signature design.  The firing has created the wonderful coloration of the bowl, with a black mouth and chocolate-brown coloration to the remainder of the piece.  Take a closer look to see the intricacy of the design on the butterflies.  The form and the texture of the incised designs creates a unique sensation when holding the vessel   Susan's pottery is meant to not only connect with us visually, but also with touch and meant to make us think.  Few potters working today have such a profound sense of their pottery as a cultural or social statement.  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. She is currently featured in the "Mothers and Daughters" exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

9"w x 6.5"h

$3000.00

Susan Folwell - Santa Clara  

Throughout her career, Susan has created piece that relate not only to society at large, but also to her own personal life.  This open bowl has a very organic form.  She has wet the rim when it was drying so that it would have a very textural feel.  Turning the piece over, the slip on the back of the plate has a "crackling" effect, again to give the appearance of an older piece of pottery.  On the front, Susan has painted two traditional style dancers, a theme she has often repeated in her pottery.  However, these two dancers have fish for their heads.  Susan says that she was inspired by dreams of her grandfather and how she fondly remember him taking her fishing.  It is that connection, of the fish and the Pueblo which created this design.  The "old" feel of the plate further enhances the idea of the design being based on memories and how we combine so many aspects of one person into one single image.  The front of the bowl is incised and then painted with clay slips and acrylics.  The flow of the imagery and the form seems to be in perfect balance.  The form and the texture of the vessel itself creates a unique sensation when holding the vessel   Susan's pottery is meant to not only connect with us visually, but also with touch and meant to make us think.  Few potters working today have such a profound sense of their pottery as a cultural or social statement.  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. She is currently featured in the "Mothers and Daughters" exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

12" diameter

$1700.00

Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    

This is a fascinating and though provoking jar by Susan Folwell.  Technically, it is a stunning shape for a coil built vessel. The the shoulders push forward and then backward in an undulating movement.  The design is is dramatic, with a white deer on one side.  This is meant to represent one's dreams.  Susan herself is often inspired by her dreams to create the imagery for her pottery.  As the jar is turned, there is a complicated section of "mosaic" pattern, with a coloration which almost reminds one of falling leaves or the landscape seen from the corner of ones eye in a moving vehicle.  The opposite side has another deer, yet this is the deer of transformation.  Note that the antlers have become trees while the back leg of the deer is that of a bird.  The white deer of dreams has transformed into a complex figure, combining numerous aspects of nature in one figure.  Near the top Susan has also incised a lightning design, another symbolic image.  This jar is incised and then painted with clay slips and underglazes. The coloration on this jar is subdued and yet elegant.  The flow of the imagery and the form seems to be in perfect balance.  The form and the texture of the incised designs creates a unique sensation when holding the vessel   Susan's pottery is meant to not only connect with us visually, but also with touch and meant to make us think.  Few potters working today have such a profound sense of their pottery as a cultural or social statement.  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. She is currently featured in the "Mothers and Daughters" exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

7"w x 12.75"h

$4000.00

Goldenrod (Gloria Garcia) - Santa Clara  

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.  These two pieces are highly polished and etched with realistic animal scenes. The seedpot on the left has two mustangs as the central design.  There is a cloud pattern highlighted with a white clay slip on one side.  Note in the second image above the little rabbits near the rocks and sagebrush by the feet of the mustang! The bowl on the right is polished and fired red and there are herd of buffalo encircling the piece.  The action on the bowl ranges from a mother with a baby buffalo to two male buffalos fighting.  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:        Seedpot w/ Mustang     2.5"w x 2.75"h             $500.00

Right:     Bowl with Buffalos        3"w x 2.5"h                 $650.00

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 two bowl are highly polished and fired black.  The bowl on the left has a series of hummingbirds, butterflies and flowers as the main design.  It is an intricate series of patterns, all seemingly connected.  The red clay slip is applied after the firing and used to highlight both the hummingbirds and the butterflies.  The seedpot on the right has a deer as the central design etched into the clay.  Take a closer look at the design and note the very lightly etched shadows and fur on the deer!  there is also a classic Santa Clara style sun just above the back fo the deer.  The piece is beautifully polished and wonderful designed!  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 Hummingbirds            3.25"w x 2.5"h        $650.00

Right:     Seedpot with Deer and Sun         2"w x 2"h                 $400.00

   Jason Garcia - Santa Clara   NEW

These two tiles continue Jason's fascination with the juxtaposition of contemporary and Pueblo culture.  Each piece is a hand built clay tile, made from native clay.  All of the colors are derived from Native clay.  Many of the ideas for his tiles come from his own personal experiences of watching people at the traditional Pueblo dances.  The first tile is entitled, "Got them So'sila blues" and derives it inspiration from the famous painting of Whistler's "Mother".  Here she is looking out a window at Black Mesa, and note the traditional style raincloud in the sky.  The details in the imagery, like the little mouse hole near the floor are wonderful!  However, it is the shirt and skirt which reveal Jason's talent as a painter! The depth and detail, using only native clays, is really exceptional!   The third tile captures a moment in time at Santa Clara pueblo, when the water brought to the village was carried up from the river in water jars which were carried on one's head.  Take a closer look at this piece and not the intricacy of the painting of the pueblo village behind the water carrier! 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:        Navajo Whistler's Mother                    7" x 8"                $900.00

Right:     Pueblo Water Carrier                            6" x 9"                $975.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara   NEW

This box brings back much of Jason's early tiles, where he focused on traditional Santa Clara dancers and painted them in the traditional "two-dimensional" pueblo style.  This box is wonderfully complicated with a female butterfly dancer on one side and a male butterfly dancer on the other side.  Note that surrounding the dancers are small butterflies!  On the narrow sides are a geometric "butterfly wind" pattern, with a sun and cloud pattern for the lid.  The various colors and the use of the clay to contrast the painted designs is simply fantastic!  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.

5"long x 5.25"h x 2.5"w

$950.00

  Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

Jason Garcia continues to intrigue and excite us with each new tile!  While much of his work in the past year has focused on the Corn Maiden and Comic Book series, these two pieces harkens back to the more traditional Santa Clara two-dimensional style painting of the 1930's.  The tile on the left is entitled, "Pueblo Madonna" with a mother and her child on her back.  The single traditional style rain cloud in the upper left corner is representational of the classic Pueblo painting.  Note the amazing realism in this piece and the detail in her shawl and all the colors are derived from natural clays!  Jason said for the tile on the right he was inspired by the sunrise, and that this was his interpretation of the sun on the horizon.  Take a closer look at this piece, as the painting and detail are simply wonderful.  The colors are all natural clay slips which are painted onto the native clay surface before it is fired.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and was the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Dubin Fellowship at the School of American Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Click here to check out Jason's tiles at the new "Comic Art Indigene" at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Left:            Pueblo Madonna            4.5"w x 5.25"h       $400.00

Right:         Sunrise Tile                      9"long x 5"h         $300.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara    

Jason Garcia is from a family of renown potters, including his mother Gloria Garcia (Goldenrod)and great-grandmother, Severa Tafoya.  Jason was the 2007 Dubin Fellowship recipient at the School of American Research in Santa Fe.  This past year he began a series of pieces which combine his own research into Pueblo history with his early inspiration of graphic novels and comic books.  The clay tiles are painted with native clay slips and native fired.  They are designed in the style of a comic book, yet have amazing depth to their imagery and stories.  The series is entitled, "Tewa Tales of Suspense". This piece is number two in the series and the style of imagery is meant to be reflective of Jack Kirby, a renown comic book artist.   It continues the story of the Second Pueblo Revolt of 1696.  The caption in the upper right says, "Led by Lucas Naranjo of Ka'Pho Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo)  Tewa Revolutions Continue after 1680!"  In the lower left it says, "In the sensational Okuu Pin style".  Okuu Pin is Jason's Tewa name meaning "Turtle Mountain".  This tile captures a moment in history, the Spanish and the Pueblo Indians, as the title, "If the Thunder be Gone" is symbolic of the Spanish.  Jason puts an amazing amount of historic and cultural information in his tiles.  Jason has won numerous awards for his work since he began making tiles several year ago and he is certainly among the "up and coming" potters to watch!  Click here to check out Jason's tiles at the new "Comic Art Indigene" at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

9.25"w x 11.5"h

$2500.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

This box is certainly Jason's most complicated piece to date.  The imagery is focused on the Corn Maiden Dancers and each of the four sides has a different part of the story to tell.  It is almost as if as the box is turned on sees a variety of activities going on just outside the reach of the plaza during one of the dances.  The first image has a girl with her camera and wearing a tablita, taking a photo.  The second image is the classic Corn Maiden, with an intricately painted tablita on her head.  The third image has a girl between the dances on her cell phone with cotton candy in her hand!  Note the kiva ladder behind her!  The fourth image has a male and female dancer, both on their cell phones.  The faces on all of the dancers are just wonderful, capturing youth and their connection to the past and yet living in the present!  The box is painted with all native clays and native fired.  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.

6"w x 6.25"h

$1900.00 - SOLD

   Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

Jason Garcia continues to evolve in his creative world of Pueblo social commentary on his tiles.  Each piece is coil built and painted with native clay slip and then native fired.  This box is the first of his to include one of the "corn maiden" dancers on the lid.  The dancer is wonderfully painted and she is holding a cell phone and note the TV antennae in the background!  The sides of the box are fully painted with very traditional flower patterns.  The contrast of the modern and the historic are always a wonderful part of the story he tells in 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.

4.75"w x 3.5"h

$1100.00 - SOLD

    Tammy Garcia - Santa Clara   NEW

Tammy Garcia is a daughter of Linda Cain, sister of Autumn Borts-Medlock, granddaughter of Mary Cain and great-granddaughter of Christina Naranjo. This is a wonderful early piece of her pottery from 1988 and it is signed Tammy Borts.  It is a wonderful form with round body and perfectly turned out neck.  The entire piece is fully polished, even down into the neck of the jar!  The design is a water serpent (avanyu) which encircles the entire piece. The body of the avanyu is made up of cloud and rain patterns.  The jar is in perfect condition and it is a beautiful blend of the classic Santa Clara style and Tammy's own distinctive carving and imagery.   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".

4"w x 4.5"h

$5200.00

Tammy Garcia - Santa Clara  

This is a stunning and unusual jar by Tammy Garcia.  It was made in 1994 and the shape is a traditional kiva bowl.  It is certainly a unique piece as the background area behind the carving is still painted with the traditional cream colored clay slip.  She began to use water in the background area instead of the cream colored clay, as it was very time consuming to apply with the intricacy of her carvings.  As well, this jar is traditionally fired as opposed to her later work when she began to use an electric kiln to fire her red pottery.  The choice of imagery on this jar is fantastic, with dragonflies as the predominant theme.  According to Pueblo beliefs, dragonflies carry one's prayers to heaven, and the kiva bowl is also a ceremonial form. The jar is in perfect condition and it is a beautiful blend of the classic Santa Clara style and Tammy's own distinctive carving and imagery.  She 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".

7"w x 8"h

$15,000.00

Tammy Garcia - Santa Clara  

This large jar is a beautiful classic form. The narrow base, wide shoulder and slightly turned out lip are all part of this traditional Santa Clara form.  The jar is from 2003 and it is fully carved with a variety of birds encircling the entire piece.  The band around the neck has a series of clout formations.  Note as well that near the base there are also a series of flowers extending upward as part of the design.  This jar is a perfect balance of traditional form and intricately carved designs.  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 seedpot is accompanied by a copy of her book, "Tammy Garcia: Form Without Boundaries".

8.25"w x 9.5"h

$25,500.00

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 two outstanding pieces of her larger pottery.  The jar on the left is a classic water jar with a fluted rim and a sharp double shoulder.  The color is a deeper red with a wonderful polish.  The wedding vase on the right is from the late late 1980's and it is stunning both in the form and the polishing.  The body of the piece is very round and the spouts are flatened so they are oval and the clay handle is twisted.  There are so many things which could have gone wrong on a jar this size, yet the end result is simple and elegant.  Both 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:        Red Water Jar with Fluted Rim               7.5"w x 10"h        $1000.00

Right:     Black Wedding Vase with Bear Paws    9.5"w x 14.5"h     $1500.00- SOLD

Tina Garcia was a sister of Greg Garcia and granddaughter of Severa Tafoya.  She was renown for her 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.  This jar is a classic "storage jar" shape which traditionally was a form used for storing grain or corn.  Tina created a beautiful form with a very round form and full shape and just a slightly turned out neck.  She also impressed four bear paws into the clay. While these may seem to be a very simple shape, they are among the most difficult to polish, as there is a lot of surface area!  This jar is beautifully polished with a deep red coloration.  It is 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.

10"w x 10.25"h

$1500.00

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, yet with her own signature style of firing.  The canister on the left is fired a reddish-brown is becomes nearly black.  The only sense of the reddish coloration is near the base.  The bowl on the right is a classic shape and it has been fired to a plum-brown color.  Note as well the polishing in a vertical style.  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:              Canister                      5.5"w x 7"h                $250.00

Right:           Brown Bowl              8.25"w x 3.75"h         $300.00

Denny Gutierrez is renown for his unique take on a classic form.  Inspired by the traditional rounded "melon bowls", Denny has flattened the rib, creating a faceted appearance.  This jar is highly polished and each facet or flat edge perfectly reflects the light as they swirl down from the neck to the base. Simple and elegant!

3.5"w x 3.25"h

$350.00 - SOLD

Eugene Gutierrez is renown for is carved and incised traditional style clay figures.  His intricate pieces include polished and matte surfaces combined with carved and incised designs.  This miniature Santa Clara eagle dancer is simply stunning in the complexity of design. The tips of the wings and tail feathers are fully polished, along with the eagle's beak on the headdress of the dancer.  The sash, belt and mocassins of the dancer are also fully stone polished. The remainder of the figure is matte and the wings and tail are fully incised.  The face is carved and note the intricacy of the carved and incised designs of the area around the legs! Eugene is a grandson of noted potter Faustina Gutierrez and a son of Victoria Gutierrez.  He has won numerous awards for his figures at Santa Fe Indian Market.

2.25"w x 1.75"h

Faustina Gutierrez (1898-1976) - Santa Clara   NEW

Faustina Gutierrez was the grandmother of potter Eugene Gutierrez.  She was known for both her deeply carved and black-on-black pottery.  This box is a fantastic example of her pottery from the 1950's.  It has intricately painted designs on all four sides.  The two end sides have a central medallion and arrows. The longer sides have cloud and rain patterns over plant.  The lid is also painted with an arrow and plant design. Note the shape of the handle, which has been flattened on the top to be more square, like the box itself.  The lid fits perfectly, as it has two bands of clay on the inside that keeps it from moving.  The box is beautifully polished and the well painted.  It was in her later work that she began to make more deeply carved pottery.  This box is in excellent condition with only one tiny ding on the inside edge of the lid.  Otherwise there are no other chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is always difficult to find boxes which have survived over time in such great condition!  Definitely an exciting and unique addition to any collection!

4" long x 3.75"w x 5"h

$800.00

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.  Here are two of the smallest pieces of her pottery we have had!  The seedpot on the left has two turtles, each painted with a variety of colors for their shells.  The jar on the right has a Santa Clara style flute player and a series of flowers.  Surrounding each flower are bees!  It is amazing that for a piece so small she is able to create such an extraordinary amount of design!  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.

Left:            Seedpot with 2 Turtles            2.5"w x 2.5"h        $150.00 - SOLD

Right:         Jar w/ Flute Player & Bees      2"w x 2.5"h           $150.00 - SOLD

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" by Greg Schaaf on p. 47.  The seedpot on the right has a Mimbres style scorpion incised into the clay.  It is surrounded by additional geometric imagery.  Dean is certainly a young potter to watch!

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

Right:     Seedpot w/ Mimbres Scorpion    2"w x 1.75"h          $150.00 - SOLD

Kelli Little Katchina is a daughter of Lucy Yearflower and a granddaughter of Camilio Tafoya.  This is a beautiful jar with a deep carved avanyu and sunface as the design.  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. 

5"w x 4"h

$650.00

Alton Komalestewa - Hopi-Tewa   

Here is a stunning piece from Alton Komalestewa.  He is a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano and learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law, Helen Shupla (Santa Clara).  His work has always been a balance of Santa Clara style and yet they have the thin walls and feel of a Hopi vessel.  This large jar is based on the classic wide shoulder appearance of a Hopi Sikyatki jar.   It is fully polished and then has been fired to a very unusual brownish red.  There is no design, simply letting the form speak for itself.  It is a stunning piece in color, form and very light-weight.  Alton is masterful at creating pottery forms which not only feel light of weight in your hands, but also use the light on the polished surface to emphasize the form.

12.5"w x 6"h         

$3000.00

Rosemary is a daughter of Joseph Lonewolf and is known for her intricately etched seedpots.  Here are two exceptional all red seedpots.  The piece on the left is from 1978, making it a relatively early piece of her pottery.  There is a single raccoon as the central design, etched into the clay.  The raccoon is surrounded by various cloud and rain patterns around the side of the piece.  Note the wonderful overall symmetry and precision of the incised designs. The tall seedpot on the right is from 1981 and it is very intricately designed. There are two cardinals as the central design.  As the piece is turned, there is a stylized bird and then a series of cloud and rain patterns encircling the piece. Note the various colorations reflect the depth of the etching into the surface of the seedpot.  This piece is wonderfully complicated and beautifully designed.  Both pieces are 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.

Left:            Seedpot with Racoon            2"w x 2"h                    $600.00

Right:        Seedpot w/ Cardinals             2.5"w x 3.5"h              $1200.00

Grace Medicine Flower (b. 1938) - Santa Clara    NEW

Grace Medicine Flower has been making her pottery for over fifty years and yet continues to be among the most innovative and creative potters working today.  Each of her new polychrome pieces challenges the viewer as she employs every technique available, such as carving, incising and sgraffito.  She also combines polished, micaceous and painted surfaces to create her designs.  This bowl is simply stunning with the complicated form where she has cut through the body of the bowl in the shape of the fish and waves encircling the pieces!  The area around the fish has bands which are highly polished and then incised. Note in the third image above the use of the micaceous clay slips and the incised and polychrome slipped fish to create the various colors.  It is amazing that a bowl with such complex carved forms didn't crack in either the drying or firing stage!    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 4.5"h

$6800.00

Grace Medicine Flower (b. 1938) - Santa Clara    NEW

It barely seems possible that Grace continues to evolve her style of polychrome pottery.  Each piece is coil built and the carved and either stone polished or painted with native clay slips.  This elegant bowl is a stunning example of her technical expertise and use of classic Santa Clara imagery.  The seedpot has two koshari clowns carved on the top.  One is holding watermelon, the other is playing with a dog.  They are deeply carved into the clay and the painted with native clay slips.  The top of the seedpot is also carved through to create additional designs.  They are then painted with native clay slips to create the various colorations.  Turning the seedpot over is the "surprise", as the entire base is almost fully polished and then incised.  This is both a technically complicated piece and also a piece of her work with a wonderful sense of humor! 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.

5.5"w x 3"h

$7200.00

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.  This seedpot is from 1977 and has a realistic Big Horn Sheep as the main design on the side and top of the piece.  The early use of realism in her work is evident in this piece.  Not as well the background design behind the animal, where a hatchwork of incised lines enhances the central design. The beautifully designed area around the Sheep further emphasizes the design.  It is in perfect condition and is an exceptional examples of the incised pottery art of this important potter.

2.5"w x 2"h

$1800.00 - SOLD

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.  This long neck jar is from the mid-1980's.  There are three medallions encircling the bowl.  One has a deer looking straight on, while the other two have a female deer lying down and another with the deer in motion.  There is also a single Mimbres style deer etched into the clay between two of the medallions.  Wow, for such a small jar, it is amazingly full of design!

2.25"w x 3.5"h

$2500.00

Jennifer & Mike Moquino - Santa Clara  

Jennifer Moquino is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino.  They are certainly among the most exciting young potters working today.  The use of realism in their imagery has revitalized the style of sgraffito pottery originated by Joseph Lonewolf in the 1970's.  This miniature seedpot is incredible intricate in its detail! Around the neck are the rain cloud patterns while the body of the piece has two frogs in medallions.  One is a leopard frog, sitting on a brown leaf.  The other is a green tree frog, sitting on a green leaf.  Note how the leaf behind the green tree frog is further incised into the clay, giving it a fantastic sense of realism!!! Between the frogs are butterflies and rain clouds highlighted with white clay!  The various colors are all derived from natural clay slips, which Jennifer finds herself.  It is always the little details which make Jennifer's pottery so spectacular.  The contrast of tightly etched designs and the beautiful polished surface are stunning.  They have won numerous awards for their pottery and are featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay", "Crafted to Perfection" and "Breaking the Mold".  Jennifer has also been featured in recent magazine articles in "Native Peoples" and "Southwest Art".

2.25"w x 2.75"h

$900.00  - SOLD

Jennifer & Mike Moquino - Santa Clara  

This is a beautifully designed jar from Jennifer!  The piece as two medallions, one with Yellow Rumped Warblers and one with Ring Necked Pheasants.  The birds are beautifully incised into the clay, with fantastic detail in the wings and feathers.  Between the two larger medallions are a series of smaller medallions, each with butterflies. The butterflies are each a different type (Cabbage White, Question Mark, Common Sulfur and Great Spangled Fritallard) and each in a different position.  Delicately surrounding the butterfly medallions are a series of flowers and plants, emanating up from the base. Jennifer has added a plumed water serpent around the neck of the piece, which is a wonderful

connection to classic Santa Clara Pueblo imagery.  The jar also has a lid, which is incised with a single butterfly.  It is a striking piece which continues to dazzle the eye no matter which way it is turned!  The various colors are all derived from natural clay slips, which Jennifer finds herself.  Jennifer Moquino is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino.  They are certainly among the most exciting young potters working today.  The use of realism in their imagery has revitalized the style of sgraffito pottery originated by Joseph Lonewolf in the 1970's.  They have won numerous awards for their pottery and are featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay", "Crafted to Perfection" and "Breaking the Mold".  Jennifer has also been featured in recent magazine articles in "Native Peoples" and "Southwest Art".

3.75"w x 4.75"h

$3000.00 - SOLD

Jennifer & Mike Moquino - Santa Clara  

Jennifer and Mike are among the most exciting young potters working today.  Jennifer Moquino is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino.  The use of realism in their imagery has revitalized the style of sgraffito pottery originated by Joseph Lonewolf in the 1970's.  This long neck jar is a stunning example of the complexity of their pottery. There are three large medallions, each with a different fish.  Between each of the medallions are three smaller medallions, each with a different insect, such as a water bug or dragonfly.  The lid is the perfect addition to this piece as the fish is three-dimensional and stands above the jar.  It is surrounded by a water serpent on the flat part of the jar.  The plain area above the medallions blends seamlessly into the intricacy of the lid.  Note as well the nearly 100 small incised fish near the base of the jar!  Amazingly, all of the additional colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Look closer at this piece as it is always the little details which make Jennifer's pottery so spectacular.  The contrast of tightly etched designs and the beautiful polished surface are stunning.  They have won numerous awards for their pottery and are featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay", "Crafted to Perfection" and "Breaking the Mold". 

4.75"w x 6"h (w/ Lid)

$4600.00 - SOLD

Jennifer & Mike Moquino - Santa Clara    

Jennifer Moquino is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino.  They are certainly among the most exciting young potters working today.  The use of realism in their imagery has revitalized the style of sgraffito pottery originated by Joseph Lonewolf in the 1970's.  This seedpot is fantastic, with a single bee medallion on one each side.  There are flowers in the areas separating the two medallions.  While the jar is highly polished and fired black, all of the colors on each piece are derived from natural clay slips, which Jennifer finds herself.  It is always the little details which make Jennifer's pottery so spectacular.  They have won numerous awards for their pottery and are featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay", "Crafted to Perfection" and "Breaking the Mold".  Jennifer has also been featured in recent magazine articles in "Native Peoples" and "Southwest Art".

2"w x 2.5"h

$900.00 - SOLD

      Celestina Naranjo (1912-1994) - Santa Clara  

Celestina Naranjo was a daughter of Pasquelita Gutierrez and an aunt of Cresencia Tafoya.  Here are two smaller pieces which reflect the wide variety of her pottery.  On the left is a wonderful open bowl which is triangular in shape.  It is fully polished on the inside and outside.  A very elegant form and high shine!  The jar on the right is a carved long neck jar.  The pattern is a rain and lighting design.  Both pieces are from the early 1970's and in great condition with no chips, cracks restoration or repair.  

Left:        Triangular Fully Polished Bowl            4"w x 1.5"h            $100.00

Right:     Long Neck Carved Jar                             2.5"w x 3.5"h         $100.00 - SOLD

Forest Naranjo is a son of noted potter Bernice Naranjo, the brother of Dusty Naranjo and nephew of potters Jody Folwell and Nora Naranjo-Morse.  Here are three wonderful miniatures by Forrest.  They are all fully polished and then fired to be a dark brownish-black coloration. The tall seedpot on the left has a series of mudhead dancers and a feather pattern incised into the clay.  The flat seedpot has fish on both sides along with a medallion of eagle feathers on one side. The third seedpot above is asymmetrical in form and has birds incised on each side.  They are all beautifully polished and Forrest's imagery always has a very  dreamlike appearance, giving his work a very distinctive appearance.

Left:        Tall Seedpot with Mudheads            1.5"w x   1.75"h            $150.00

Center    Flat Seedpot w/ Fish                            2.25"w x 2"h                 $150.00

Right:     Long Seedpot with Birds                    2"long x 1.75"h            $150.00

Jody Naranjo - Santa Clara    

Jody Naranjo is a daughter of Dolly Naranjo, and a granddaughter of Rose Naranjo.    Her pottery is non-traditional by coloration from the firing and the designs, but she utilizes all native materials and techniques.  This is one of the most technically difficult pieces of her pottery we have had in the gallery.  The rim has been carved to represent a rain pattern. It is amazing that it survived both the carving, drying and firing stages intact!  The reminder of the piece has highly polished butterfly and frog designs. Each of the animals is incised with different designs.  Surrounding the frogs and the butterflies are a series of more deeply incised swirls which connect each of the images.  The interior of the neck is also fully incised with star patterns.  The jar is an elegant form and the use of such intricate imagery along with the matte and polished surfaces creates a stunning vessel!  Jody has won numerous awards for her pottery, including a Best of Division at the 2006  Indian Market and she was the first potter to win "Best of Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market with a piece of non-traditional pottery.

9"w x 7"h

$5500.00 - SOLD

Madeline Naranjo is the granddaughter of noted potter, Madeline Naranjo.  The younger Madeline is well known for her deeply carved pottery which is thin walled and contrasts the matte area of her carved designs with the polished surfaces.   Here are two striking pieces of her pottery.  The bowl on the left has two carved birds (one on each side).  They are deeply carved into the clay and have polished tails and beaks, while the bodies are matte.  The remainder of the bowl is fully polished black. The jar on the right has a long neck and two dragonflies carved into the clay.  The edges of her carved designs are amazingly crisp and defined, creating a wonderful sensation when held.  Madeline has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and is definitely an "up and coming" Santa Clara potter to watch!

Left:            Bowl with Carved Birds            2.5"w x 2.25"h        $200.00 - SOLD

Right:         Jar with Dragonflies                   3.25"w x 3.5"h        $300.00 - SOLD

Nicolassa Naranjo was a daughter of Tomasita Tafoya-Naranjo (1884-1918), who was an older sister of Margaret Tafoya's.  Nicolassa was well known for her larger sized pottery with classic painted imagery.  This large wedding vase is a beautiful example of her pottery, with long necks and a highly polished surface. The design is a water serpent painted encircling the body of the wedding vase.  This piece is from the mid-1980's before she began doing pottery with her daughter, Roberta. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.     

9"w x 14.5"h

Paul Naranjo was renown for his beautifully incised pottery. This is one of his miniatures with incised rabbits as the designs. There are three rabbits encircling the piece.  Around the rim there are incised cloud patterns and a water serpent incised in the background. Paul fired his pottery a brown coloration, which was unusual at the time. Paul was featured in books such as "Beyond Traditions" and won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market from 1988 to 1992.  He was a brother to Marian Rose Naranjo and inspired young potters, such as Kevin Naranjo to create realistic incised pottery!

2"w x 2.25"h

It is not often the we come across such a wonderful miniature as this bowl by Teresita Naranjo.   Teresita, a daughter of Christina Naranjo and a sister of Mary Cain, 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 small bowl is from the 1970's, but has her signature deeply carved style. The design is a rain, lighting and cloud pattern encircling the piece.  What truly makes it the most charming is that the entire inside of the bowl is also fully polished!  This always adds to the technical difficulty of the piece, no matter what size!  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a wonderfully sized piece by an impactful potter to add to a collection.

3.5"w x 2"h

$400.00 - SOLD

Teresita Naranjo was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and a sister of Mary Cain.  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 classic piece of her pottery from the 1950's.  Note how the top band of carving creates the cloud forms which are above the avanyu.  The water serpent encircles the bowl and there is a single band of carving below the avanyu itself. The bowl is a beautiful red and there is a cream colored slip in the background in contrast to the red.  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. 

8"w x 5.25"h

$3600.00

Jeremy Oyenque (b. 1984) - Santa Clara  

Jeremy part of an amazing family legacy of Pueblo potters.  He is the son of Linda Tafoya, the grandson of Lee & Betty Tafoya and a great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya!  Jeremy learned to make pottery from his mother and has been creating some very classic style pottery.  This kiva bowl is a very traditional shape, with each of the carved rims meant to represent the kiva's where religious ceremonies take place on the Pueblo.  The outside of the bowl is fully polished and has carved birds surrounding the piece.  The style of carving is deep and clean with very simplistic imagery.  The inside of the bowl is charming with the tracks of the birds incised into the bottom of the bowl and the entire inside is covered with a micaceous clay slip! Jeremy has an interest in making larger vessels and certainly comes from a family renown for the scale of their pottery vessels.  It will be exciting to see where this talented potter progresses over time!

8.5"w x 4"h

$1000.00

    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. The jar on the left 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.  The bowl on the right has a large incised scene of a bear fighting an elk on one side.  The other side has a stylized bear in a medallion on the other side.  Between the two areas there are bear paw and Sioux feather designs.  The bowl has four inset pieces of turquoise.   Red Starr has won numerous awards for his pottery at events such as Gallup Ceremonials.

Left:        Jar w/ Mt. Goat and Sunface            3"w x 3.5"h        $600.00

Right:     Bowl with Bear & Elk                        4"w x 3.25"        $800.00 - SOLD

Cliff Roller - Santa Clara    

Cliff Roller is a son of Toni Roller and a grandson of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001).  Following in the style of his mother his pottery is beautifully carved and highly polished.  This melon bowl has eight ribs carved into the clay. The entire jar is highly polished, creating a glassy appearance.  Cliff has won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market.

5"w x 4"h

$600.00 - SOLD

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).  This jar is a wonderful 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! Jeff has won numerous awards for his pottery and continues to evolve with more complicated forms and detailed animals. 

6"w x 8"h

$2800.00

      Jeff Roller - Santa Clara    

Jeff is a son of Toni Roller and a grandson of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001). He was the first Santa Clara potter to being using native clay to sculpt the animals for the lids on his pottery. The jar on the left has a carved band with kiva step designs.  The lid is a carved buffalo lying down!  The jar on the left 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!  Both pieces are so beautifully constructed they appear to be miniature versions of larger pieces!  Jeff has won numerous awards for his pottery and continues to evolve with more complicated forms and detailed animals.  We certainly expect to see some exciting new work from Jeff here in the gallery this year.

Left:        Miniature Jar with Buffalo Lid        2.25"w x 2.75"h        $1100.00

Right:     Miniature Jar with Eagle Lid            2.25"w x 3.75"h        $1100.00

Ryan Roller (b. 1982) - Santa Clara  

We are very pleased to have a new piece by Ryan Roller, a son of noted potter Jeff Roller, grandson of Toni Roller and great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  Coming from such an illustrious family, it is exciting to see the wonderful technical skill to his pottery!  Ryan noted on this piece that it is one of the first that he made from coiling to the native firing, and from carving to polishing.  It is a beautiful form with a narrow base and deeply carved designs.  Around the neck are a series of feathers, stylized much in the same was as those of his grandmother.  Around the body of the piece are a series of rams horns, which were inspired by the Ram Dancers at a recent traditional dance at the Pueblo.  Note as well the wonderful shine from the stone polished surface!  It is definitely exciting to see such high quality of both technical expertise and elegant designs in a younger potter!  

7"w x 5"h

$750.00 - SOLD

Toni Roller (b. 1935) - Santa Clara    

Toni Roller began making pottery as a career in the early 1970's.  She is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and a sister of noted potters LuAnn Tafoya, Shirley Tafoya, Mary Ester Archuleta and Mela Youngblood.  Her pottery always has 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 a long 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.  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. 

7.5"w x 10.5"h

$2500.00

     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.  Here are three miniatures, each highly polished and then fired black. The tan on the rim is created by re-heating the piece to remove the oxidation of the black from the firing creating a "two-tone" appearance.  The designs are then etched into the clay. The miniature jar on the left has a wide shoulder and longer neck. There is a water serpent and geometric pattern etched into the clay.  The plate in the center has an avanyu (water serpent) as the central design around a rain and kiva step medallion.  The jar on the right has a water serpent around the shoulder and cloud and rain symbols below.  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:             Black & Tan Jar w/ Avanyu                 .75"w x .75"h                $150.00

Center:        Plate w/ Avanyu                                     1.25" diameter             $150.00

Right:          Black & Tan Jar w/ Rain Clouds        1"w x .75"h                   $150.00

Frances Salazar (b. 1936) - Santa Clara    

Frances Salazar  is the daughter of Flora Naranjo and the sister of potters Barbara Martinez and Glenda Naranjo.  She is also the mother of potters Elaine Salazar, Sohpie Cata and Yolanda Velarde.  This oval shaped bowl is from the 1970's and it is a wonderful form with a sharp shoulder and well polished.  It has a mountain design painted onto the surface around the entire shoulder of the bowl.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

5.5" long x 4.5"w x 3"h

$125.00

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. This bowl is a beautiful example of her style, with a water serpent (avanyu) 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.  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is certainly a wonderful example of her creativity as an artist!

5"w x 3.25"h

$800.00

    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.  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.  Here are two red fired pieces, each which has a very distinctive coloration.  On the left is a large melon which is a deep red coloration.  It has a bit lower shoulder and a more elongated neck.  The jar on the right has been fired to more of a dark brown tone, rather than the typical red.  The coloration of this jar is exquisite!  The piece is perfectly polished , which emphasizes the form, which has a higher shoulder and  shorter neck.  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:      Brown Melon Jar                    7.5"w x 6"h             $5800.00 - 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.  Amazingly, she began making carved pottery with her husband but when he was ill she decided to try an old form, 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.  Here are two stunning black fired pieces. On the left is a larger jar which is a dark black coloration from the firing.  Note the beautiful polish which has a glassy sheen to the jar.  The jar on the right is unusual as it has been fired a "gunmetal", giving it a metallic 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 Black Melon Jar         8.5"w x 6.5"h          $7400.00

Right:     Gunmetal Melon Jar            6.25"w x 5.5"h        $3400.00 - SOLD

Jeannie Shupla (d. 1989) and Alton Komalestewa - Santa Clara and Hopi-Tewa  NEW

This is a fantastic double lobbed jar by Jennie Shupla and Alton Komalestewa.  It is one of the few pieces of their together.  Jennie was a daughter of noted potter Helen Shupla and she was married to Alton Komalestewa.  This jar is a classic double lobbed jar, carved with bear paws on both the upper and lower sections.  The bottom half is polished tan while the upper half is polished red.  The bear paws are at right angles to each other on the top and bottom so there is always a bear paw showing as the jar is turned! The complexity of the from and the colorations makes this a very distinctive vessel!  As well, is rare to come across their pottery together, yet the creativity of their work is certainly evident.  This jar is in excellent condition with  no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is certainly an exciting addition to any collection of contemporary Santa Clara pottery!

5.25"w x 6.5"h

$2800.00

Mary Singer (b. 1936) - Santa Clara   

Mary Singer is a daughter of potter Pablita Chavarria and the sister of noted potters Reycita and Elizabeth Naranjo.  Mary is well known for her large sized pottery and very complicated carved designs. This jar is a beautiful shape with a round body and a long neck. The neck is fully carved with a feather pattern while the body has a water serpent (avanyu) as the design.  Note the flow and intricacy of her carved patterns!  The jar is from the 1970's and it is in excellent condition.  Mary has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market.

8"w x 10.5"h

$1800.00 - SOLD

Ramona Sisneros was known for her deeply carved 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

Paul Speckled Rock was married to Rosemary Lonewolf and learned to make incised pottery from her father, Joseph Lonewolf.  Paul also comes from a family of renown potters, including brothers Ray Tafoya and Kenneth Tafoya and his grandmother Severa Tafoya.  While Paul was renown for his miniatures, he also made some larger pieces.  This large jar is fully polished a dark brownish-red and has incised fish as the design.  They are incised in the Mimbres style with the water slipped with a reddish-mauve matte clay slip.  This Paul is no longer making pottery and this piece was made in 1993.  It is a great example of his larger works and his creativity!

8.5"w x 6.25"h

It is not often that we find two such classic pottery by Agapita Tafoya.  She was the wife of Camilio Tafoya and the mother of Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf.  Most of her pottery is smaller in size, with earlier pieces which are painted and pieces from the 1940's and 1950's being carved.  These are two of the few red pieces of her pottery we have had in the gallery.   The bowl on the left is a classic bird feather pattern with rounded edges.  The bowl is a dark red color, indicating it is probably from the 1940's, as the red clay slip changed in the early 1950's.  The background area surrounding the carving has the traditional cream colored slip.  The piece on the right is the only polychrome vessel of hers we have ever had in the gallery.  It is wonderfully painted with cloud, rain and snow designs.  The color of the red is amazing, as is the polishing!  The form, while more utilitarian, is wonderfully shaped and proportioned! Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  These are definitely exciting additions to a collection of Lonewolf family pottery!

Left:        Carved Bowl with Feather Pattern            5"w x 2.75"h                            $500.00 -  SOLD

Right:     Polychrome Pitcher                                      4.5" long x 3.25"h x 3.5"w     $400.00 - SOLD

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.  This is a unique piece, with two holes in the top, and two medallions.  The medallions are red slipped and have dancers as their designs.  The remainder of the piece is a highly polished black, which is perfect contrast to the red medallions.  This bowl was made in 1972, and it is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

4"w x 2.5"h

$1600.00 - SOLD

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.  Note in the second image the feathers on the back of the head.  The water serpent encircles the entire piece. The second seedpot is one of his later works and among the most complicated we have seen. There are a series of Mimbres style dancers extending from the top of the piece to the base.  They are seeming to come out of the clouds and each is very individual in its style and they are also accented with additional colored clay slips. Note the variety of colors from white to green and blue!  Both pieces are in perfect 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        $1200.00

Right:            Seedpot with Dancers                              1.75"w x 3"h           $2000.00 - SOLD

Camilio Tafoya's name has become synonymous with the intricate miniature sgraffito pottery he began creating in the 1970's.  The jar on the left is one of the most traditional pieces of his pottery we have had in the gallery.  A classic water jar shape, this piece was made in 1975 and has 32 incised feathers as the design, encircling the jar.  The seedpot on the right was made in 1978 has eleven hummingbirds encircling the piece along with numerous flowers.  Both pieces are highly polished and native fired red.  They are both in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  While many of his later pieces have additional added clay colors, his early red incised pieces are dynamic and show his mastery of this then new technique of incising into the surface of the clay!

Left:               Red Jar with 32 Feathers                           2.25"w x 2.5"h       $1000.00

Right:            Red Seedpot w/ 11 Hummingbirds       3"w x 2.5"h             $2000.00

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         $1600.00

Right:     Seedpot w/ Raccoon & Rabbit   1.5"w x 1.75"h        $1600.00

Lee Tafoya is the only son of Margaret Tafoya who made pottery.  He began to make pottery in the early 1960's along with his wife, Betty.  He would make and carve the pieces while Betty would polish them.  Lee was well known for firing his black pieces with such an intensity of heat to create a deep, rich coloration.  This jar is from 1988 with a carved water serpent (avanyu).  It is a classic design and his own unique shape to the head of the water serpent.  This jar is also published in the book, "Born of Fire" on page 127.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is not often that we find pieces of Lee's work available and it is definitely exciting to have a piece which has been published! 

5.5"w x 5.25"h

$1250.00

Legoria was a sister of noted Santa Clara painter, Pablita Velarde and aunt of Helen Hardin.  She was well known for her distinctive style of carved pottery, which had a very relief-style appearance and not as deep as some of the latter carved pottery.  This canister is a beautiful example of her pottery, which is complicated in design. There are rain, cloud and kiva step patterns encircling the entire piece.  It is well polished and the design is a perfect complement to the form.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

3.25"w x 5.25"h

$400.00

Linda Tafoya-Sanchez - Santa Clara   NEW

This bowl is a stunning piece from Linda Tafoya!  She learned to make pottery from her parents, Lee and Betty Tafoya  and developed her unique style if deeply carved pottery.  The bowl has a very intricately carved butterfly as the central design.  The butterfly is fully polished and it is made up of cloud and rain patterns.  It is surrounded by a micaceous clay slip, which further emphasizes the high polish.  On the opposite side are 16 melon ribs, each deeply carved and the entire half is fully polished!  It is a beautiful contrast of intricate and classic designs.   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

4.25"w x 3.5"h

$1200.00  

    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 are two exceptional vessels, one black and one red.  The bowl on the left is fully carved with cloud, wind and rain patterns.  The interconnecting designs flow seamlessly around the entire piece and are highlighted by the highly polished surface.  The piece on the right 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 is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and she 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.  These two vessels are definitely an exciting way to add a piece of LuAnn's work to any collection!

Left:        Bowl with Mountains and Rain patterns            6.5"w x 6"h        $1800.00 - SOLD

Right:     Red Wedding Vase with Buffalo Design            9"w x 13"h         $2800.00

LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    NEW

This low shoulder jar is a reflection of the classic style of LuAnn Tafoya's pottery. The piece seems simple with a fully polished surface, a low shoulder and a longer neck. There is a single bear paw impressed into the clay and then polished with the remainder of the piece. However, while seemingly simple, the jar is imbued with historic and cultural depth.  The bear paws have been used at Santa Clara pueblo for centuries representing a story where a bear saved the village by leading them to water during a drought.  The bear paw also became an iconic symbol on the large vessels of her mother, Margaret Tafoya.  This smaller piece reflects both the family and Pueblo history in one piece.  Typical of LuAnn's pottery, the jar has a wonderful form and it is highly polished!  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

$2000.00

  Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  

Margaret Tafoya was one of the most influential potters at Santa Clara Pueblo, witnessing the change of pottery from a folk art to fine art. It is not often that we find her early work with such a wonderful design image.  This jar is from the 1930's and is painted black-on-black.  It was very typical at this early time in her career to do plainware, painted pottery and also carved pottery.  The style of her painted designs is very recognizable, as they are painted with thick lines and intricate patterns few potters would take the time to create.  The design on this jar is an early water serpent or avanyu (in the negative space, as it is outlined with the thick lines).  It is unique in that the head is below the tail (the first image above).  The avanyu then encircles the entire jar, creating a variety of rain and cloud patterns.  Note as well in the third image above the brownish area, which definitely signifies it as during the 1930's era, as they would fire numerous pieces together and they may even be touching one another.  It shows an area where the manure and smoke didn't fully oxidize the clay.  Again, a charming and important aspect to the history of contemporary Santa Clara pottery.  This bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks or repair.  There are a few light surface scratches, but nothing significant for the age of the piece.  On the bottom, it is signed "Margaret" into the clay.  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 early pieces with such unique and significant imagery are always exciting!

8"w x 8"h

$2500.00

Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara   NEW

Margaret Tafoya was one of the most influential potters at Santa Clara Pueblo, witnessing the change of pottery from a folk art to fine art. This small bowl is one of the smallest pieces of her pottery we have had in the gallery!  It is from the 1960's and it is fully polished and painted with a feather pattern.  Note at the top of the feathers are a half circle clouds and rain designs.  The bowl is simple yet typical of a time period when she was both carving and painting her pottery.  Although it is a smaller piece, it is still complex in design and charm.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  On the bottom, it is signed "Margaret" in the clay.  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 early pieces with such unique and significant imagery are always exciting!

3.5"w x 3"h

$975.00 - SOLD

Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  

This is a stunning open bowl by Margaret Tafoya.  She was the Matriarch of a family of renown potters, including children LuAnn Tafoya, Virginia Ebelacker, Mela Youngblood, Shirley Tafoya, Mary Ester Archuleta and Lee Tafoya. Her pottery is significant for the size, carving and polishing.  This large open bowl is very unique as the entire inside is fully polished!  The bowl has the walking bear paw design around the outside and it is meticulously carved.  This bowl is from the 1960's and it is fantastic condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The interior surface is simply marvelous with the high polish and complement to the carved pattern around the sides.  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".  Her pottery, and especially her red-ware, is definitely an exciting addition to any collection!

12"w x 4.25"h

$9500.00

   Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  

Margaret Tafoya was one of the most influential potters at Santa Clara Pueblo, witnessing the change of pottery from a folk art to fine art.  She is one of the only artists to have ever won "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market two years in a row!  She was the matriarch of a family of renown potters, including children LuAnn Tafoya, Virginia Ebelacker, Mela Youngblood, Shirley Tafoya, Mary Ester Archuleta and Lee Tafoya.  Here is an exceptional piece of her pottery, both from the early 1980's.  Margaret made much less red ware pottery, and much of it was during this later time period. The bowl has a very classic open cloud and lightning design. It is beautifully polished and a great example of her pottery, especially for this size.  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".  Her pottery, and especially her red-ware, is definitely an exciting addition to any collection!

6.5"w x 5.5"h

$4500.00

Margaret Tafoya (1904 - 2001) - Santa Clara  

Margaret Tafoya's long lifespan is reflected in her creation of pottery for nearly eighty years!  This long neck water jar was made in the 1950's.  The jar has a deeply carved water serpent (avanyu) encircling the piece.  Margaret and her husband, Alcario, often worked together on their pottery and he drew out many of the designs.  The water serpent on this piece is one which was designed and carved by Margaret.  While the shape and size are typical of much of her work during this time, it is the coloration which is so unique on the piece.  It is not quite as black, and almost a more brown coloration.  It is thought that this was created from the bark which was used during the outdoor firing or from wood which was younger.  In many ways, the color variation is an early precursor to the "brown ware" of the 1970's.  The unique coloration is striking, giving this jar a classic and yet contemporary appearance!  The jar 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". 

8.5"w x 12.5"h

$9200.00 - 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 

  Pasquelita Tafoya (1883 - 1959) - Santa Clara   NEW

This is among the most unique pieces we have had in the gallery.  Pasquelita Tafoya was the only sister of potter Sara Fina Tafoya and the matriarch of an entire family of potters!  Her children include Juan Gutierrez who married Petra Gutierrez, the mother of Gloria Garcia, Lois Gutierrez and Minnie Vigil and grandmother of Jason Garcia.  One of her daughters was Celestina Naranjo, and another was Tomasita Tafoya, the mother of Cresencia Tafoya and grandmother of Annie Baca, Harriet Tafoya, and Pauline Martinez.  This bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, "Pasquelita Tafoya, Santa Clara Pueblo".  It is a later piece of her work from the 1950's and it is an engagement basket with a twisted clay handle and painted black-on-black designs.  The piece is in perfect condition and beautifully polished and painted.  The painted designs are a series of classic cloud and rain patterns.  The piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is amazing to see a piece with handles like these to have survived in such great shape! This is the only the second piece we have come across of her singed work, it is definitely an exciting historic piece to add to any collection!

4.5"w x 6.75"h

$700.00

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

$6500.00

 Severa Tafoya (1890 - 1973) - Santa Clara  

Severa Tafoya was the matriarch of a family of known potters.  She was the sister of Van Gutierrez (of Lela & Van polychrome pottery fame) and her descendants include Jason Garcia, Tina Garcia, Angela Baca, Paul Speckled Rock, Ray Tafoya and Jennifer Moquino.  Severa developed her own unique style of carving. It was a shallower style yet there was an intricacy to her lines and a very distinctive shape to the horn on her water serpent.   This bowl has a carved water serpent (avanyu) encircling the entire piece.  There are additional rain and cloud patterns.  While the design is in a band formation, the serpent has a beautiful sense of movement and flow with larger open areas, tightly carved lines and highly polished surfaces.  Note the thin lines of the carving, something few potters do today!  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and it is definitely an exciting addition to any collection!

7"w x 5.25"h

$800.00 - SOLD                  

    Shirley "Cactus Blossom" Tafoya - Santa Clara  

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.  Here are two of her larger pieces, both perfectly coil built, carved and stone polished.  The bowl on the left has a single bear paw carved into the center and a "friendship" pattern off to the right. The entire surface is fully  polished.  She has further added to the complicated nature of this piece by carving the rim and then also painting an avanyu (water serpent) onto the back of the bowl!  This unique piece is also published in the book, "Born of Fire" on page 146.  The piece on the right is one of her larger bowls and there is a simple bear paws carved into the clay on two sides.  The entire piece is then fully polished and there are additional incised areas with cloud and rain patterns.  Shirley said that she rarely makes bowls with only a bear paw design, but it is always in honor of her mother, who was renown for the bear paw symbol on her pottery.  Typical of the miniature nature of her pottery, her bear paw is smaller but perfectly placed on the bowl!  Throughout the years, Shirley has won "Best of Miniature Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market numerous times.  Her miniatures (under 3" tall) continually capture her initial concept, of seeming to shrink down large vessels in proportion to a miniature size. 

Left:           Open Bowl w/ Bear Paw & Painted Avanyu     9"w x 2.5"h                       $4200.00

Right:        Bowl with Bear Paws                                             7"w x 2.75"h                      $2500.00

Here are two early works by Shirley Tafoya. Throughout her career, Shirley has most often made miniature versions of the large vessels her mother, Margaret Tafoya, was known to make. The jar on the left is a water jar shape and fully polished.  It received a second place ribbon at the 1974 Gallup Inter-tribal Ceremonials.  The long neck jar on the right has a water serpent carved into the clay as the central image.  Note how deeply Shirley carved the design along with the intricate style of the body.  Both pieces are in  excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Throughout the years, Shirley has won "Best of Miniature Pottery" at Santa Fe Indian Market numerous times and is featured in the book, "Born of Fire". 

Left:            Black Water Jar            2"w x 2"h                $600.00

Right:         Red Jar w/ Avanyu     2.75"w x 3.25"h      $800.00

Belen Tapia (1914-1999) - Santa Clara   NEW

Belen Tapia was well known for her innovatively carved pottery in the 1960's and 70's, before she began making polychrome pottery in the 1980's.  She was the mother of noted potter Anita Suazo.  This long neck jar is from the early 1970's.  The design is very deeply carved into the clay and there is a stylized bird and prayer feather pattern.  The contrast of the matte area behind the carved surfaces and the deep red polished surfaces are stunning!  This jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. The creativity of the design and the complexity of the carving is still unique among today's potters!

8"w x 7"h

$1200.00

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, and we have been asking her for a piece for almost ten years!  This year she finally finished this beautiful bowl!  It 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 after all these years!

5.5"w x 5.5"h

$1600.00

Minnie Vigil - Santa Clara  

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.  This seedpot is unusual as it has been polished tan, which achieved using only water on the surface of the clay and not a clay slip!  The top is painted with native clay in matte. Note the wonderful contrast of the matte and polished surfaces along with the variety of clay colors used on this piece.  The design is a rain cloud pattern separated by a feather pattern.  Below the shoulder is an "eternal life" design.  The seedpot has a perfect balance of form and a design which is tightly painted. Minnie has won numerous awards at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market but today makes few pieces of pottery.

4"w x 3.5"h

$400.00 - SOLD

Tim "Sunbird" Vigil - Santa Clara    

Tim Vigil is the son of noted potter Minnie Vigil.  His pottery follows in a similar style of polychrome coloration. This seedpot is fully polished and then painted with numerous clay slips. The matte painted area is both a visual and textural contrast to the polished surface. The design is a rain  and cloud pattern utilizing three different colored clay slips!   

4.5"w x 3.5"h

$400.00

Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara   NEW

Absolutely perfect!  This is one of the most elegant jars we have had from Daryl.  The narrow base leads up to a gently rounding shoulder and an elongated neck. The simple turnout of the rim and the polishing on the inside of the neck and the flat lip, are just beautiful!  The angular kiva step design is a perfect contrast to the round shape of the body of the piece.  Daryl has looked back to the classic water jar form, yet refined it to such a simply modern appearance.  Note the polishing on this jar, which seems to glow with such a high luster!  Although he only began making pottery about nine years ago, Daryl's 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!

7"w x 9.25"h

$1950.00    

     Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara   NEW

This large jar is an amazing piece by Daryl Whitegeese.  It is exciting to see how over the past eight years he has found his own unique style, yet remaining true to the traditional forms and designs of his mother LuAnn Tafoya and his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya.  This jar has a wide body and a very "round" feel to the form. Typical of Daryl's pottery, it has a single band of carved design, perfectly carved into the clay.  This piece has a rain and mountain pattern in a single band around the jar. However, it is not the design which captures the eye, but high polish and how the light hits the curves on the form.  Note as well how Daryl has taken the time to polish the inside of the rim on the jar, simply adding to the clean elegance of his pottery.   This jar shows how the balance of form, design and polish can create a simply perfect vessel!  Daryl has won numerous awards for his traditional pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market.  He is definitely a potter to watch as his work continues to both evolve and revive traditional designs and forms!

8"w x 8.25"h

$2500.00

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

  Mela Youngblood (1931-1990) - Santa Clara    

This is certainly a simple but classic bowl from Mela Youngblood.  She was a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and the mother of Nathan Youngblood and Nancy Youngblood.  When Mela first began to make pottery in the early 1970's, she took the process very seriously.  She decided that each piece she made had to be perfect, a trait which she passed on to her children.  She quickly became known for her elegant shapes and high polish. This bowl is a wonderful example of her classic shapes and the deeply carved bear paws which are on all four sides. The bear paws are a classic design which is part of the story of how a bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought.  This bowl is in great condition and as Mela made pottery for such a short time and it is always exciting to see such elegant pieces of her pottery!

7.75"w x 4"h

$1200.00 - SOLD

     Mela Youngblood (1931-1990) - Santa Clara    

Few potters have created a legacy such as Mela Youngblood.  The daughter of Margaret Tafoya, she was the mother of Nathan Youngblood and Nancy Youngblood.  When Mela first began to make pottery in the early 1970's, she took the process very seriously.  She decided that each piece she made had to be perfect, a trait which she passed on to her children.  She quickly became known for her elegant shapes and high polish.  Of all of Margaret's daughters, she was the first one to create a storage jar which survived the firing process.    This bowl is an excellent example of her style, with a deep carved rain and lightning design. The carving is slightly rounded on the edges.  The entire bowl is fully polished, including the rim.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Mela made pottery for such a short time and it is always exciting to see such elegant pieces of her pottery!

6"w x 6"h

$1100.00 - SOLD

Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

It is not often the we such an exceptional group of miniatures by Nancy 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 group of miniatures covers a variety of her pottery styles.  On the left is her classic "Swirl" melon bowl with 16 ribs.  It is fired a beautiful red coloration and it is a piece which is published in the book, "Born of Fire" on page 135.  The seedpot in the center has a deeply carved avanyu (water serpent) as the design.  Nancy carves an amazingly delicate and intricate style of avanyu, which encircles the entire top of the piece.  The entire seedpot is fully polished to a glassy shine.  The bowl on the right is a 16 rib swirl melon and has a stunning polish.  Nancy is renown for her melon bowl shapes and this bowl is certainly the "signature" of her amazing style.  Among her melon bowls, each rib is separately carved.  The symmetry of the ribs as they swirl around the bowl adds to the difficulty in their creation.  As the entire piece is fully polished, considering the amount of surface area, it is about the same as polishing a piece nearly twice as large!  Nancy notes that she can only polish three ribs a day, as the process is so exacting!  All three of these miniatures are beautifully polished to a high, glossy shine and are in perfect condition. Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.   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.

Left:            Red Swirl Melon Bowl            3"w x 2.5"h        $5000.00 - SOLD

Center:       Seedpot w/ Avanyu                  3"w x 1.25"h      $2500.00

Right:         Black Swirl Melon Bowl         3"w x 2.5"h        $4400.00

     Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

It is not often the we such an exceptional vessel by Nancy Youngblood here in the gallery. This jar is both stunning a bit breathtaking in its precision and the shine of the stone polished surface.  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.  She was inspired to begin making the swirl melon bowls when she saw one by her great-uncle Camilio Tafoya.  The water jar is from 2007 and is a beautiful balance of form and design.  It has 32 ribs extending down from the neck to the base, each carved into the clay and then fully polished.  The mouth of the piece is stunning, with the ribs carved and rounded out, and fully polished, which is technically difficult to achieve!  The symmetry of the ribs and the from makes this one of the most difficult for her to create.  The entire piece is fully polished, which considering the amount of surface area, is the same as polishing a piece nearly twice as large!  Nancy notes that she can only polish three ribs a day, as the process is so exacting!  This jar 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 4.75"h

$11,000.00

     Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

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.  Here is a very classic styles of her melon ribbed pottery.  The melon ribbed pottery is derived from historic forms which were meant to replicate the organic nature of melons.  They have evolved into elegant and intricate pieces of pottery.  This bowl from 2002 has a more gentle slope to the ribs and each  of them are more rounded than sharp.  However, they create an equally wonderful sense of motion. 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.

6"w x 4"h

$9800.00

     Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

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.  While she is renown for her melon ribbed vessels, she is also precision oriented in the classic carved patterns on her pottery.  This bowl has 16 carved feathers as the design.  Each feather is made up of three sections, each interlocking to create one single feather.  There is a stunning sense of simplicity and balance to the design.  Each feather is fully polished red while the base is matte.  The contrast of the polished and matte surfaces, along with the precision and depth of the carving is simply beautiful.  The bowl is from 1986 and it is signed, "Nancy Youngblood Cutler".  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.

5.5"w x 5.25"h

$11,000.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara  

While Nathan is renown for his larger pottery, his smaller pieces are both beautifully formed, perfectly polished and intricately carved.  Here are two exceptional examples of his blackware pottery.  On the left is a carved jar with a central band design of cloud and rain patterns.  The entire piece is just perfectly polished and especially notice how the light hits the slight upturn of the lip!  The bowl on the right is technically among his most difficult to create, as the entire interior is fully carved! .  It is based on a classic stew bowl form with a narrow base and wide mouth.  Nathan has taken considerable time to research classic forms, especially utilitarian forms, and often revives them with his distinctive style of carving.   The highly polished surface of the carved designs and the rim are simply stunning.  The exterior of the bowl has been slipped with a micaceous clay slip.  The bowl also has a museum mount which was made specifically for the piece to be displayed in an raised position.  Both pieces are perfectly polished, with Nathan's classic glass-like appearance. Nathan continues to polish his pottery with a stone and they are all native fired, which gives them a much richer appearance.  Nathan has won over 140 awards during his career and continues to be one of the most refined and yet creative potters working today.  He has been written about in books including The Art of Clay, Beyond Traditions and 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery.

Left:                    Black Carved Jar with Clouds       6.5"w x 4"h              $4600.00

Right:                Carved Black Open Bowl                7"w x 2.25"h            $4000.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara  

Nathan is one of the premiere Pueblo potters working today.  He is known for his elegant and diverse forms, deeply carved designs and  the "glass-like" appearance of his polishing.  Nathan learned to make pottery from his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and continues in the family legacy of extraordinary pottery created using traditional methods.  This jar is a wonderful form with an oval mouth, which makes it a technically difficult form to create!  This unique shape works beautifully for Nathan's intricate style of carving.  The jar has a slightly turned out mouth and it is fully polished inside the neck and outside the rim.  Around the neck of the jar one side has a micaceous clay slipped raincloud pattern, surrounded by additional cloud and rain motifs.  As the jar is turned, the other side has a polished bear medallion highlighted by a micaceous slipped rainbow pattern.  The bear paw in the medallion is a design which is often featured on vessels which are used to hold water.  Amazingly, this jar is nearly fully carved with a walking bear paw, cloud and lightning design near the base! The polishing on this piece is stunning with a glassy surface and a beautiful contrast of micaceous and polished designs.  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.  We are pleased to be one of only two galleries nationwide to represent his spectacular pottery!

7"w x 6.75"h

$6800.00 - SOLD