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  

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

$750.00

Jerome Ebelacker (b. 1977)- Santa Clara  

Jerome has been following in his illustrious family's path by making stunning larger vessels.   He learned to make pottery from his father, Richard Ebelacker and he is a great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  Jerome has focused on traditional forms for his pottery, often researching museums and older photographs for inspiration. This piece is based on the classic storage jar shape with high shoulder and a small neck. 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       

$1200.00

Jerome Ebelacker (b. 1977)- Santa Clara   NEW

This is one of the first lidded pieces we have had from Jerome.  The shape of the canister is wonderful with  very straight sides and the top and bottom are polished tan.  The lid is also fully polished on the top and bottom!  The central design is carved into the clay and polished red.  While the design is a traditional mesa and kiva step pattern, on the canister it takes on a more modern appearance.  Jerome learned to make pottery form his father, Richard Ebelacker and he is a great-grandson of Margaret Tafoya. He  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! 

6"w x 10"h

$2900.00 

Richard Ebelacker (1946-2010)- Santa Clara  

This jar is a classic shape for Richard Ebelacker.  The high shoulder, the longer neck and the carved bear paws are all stylistic signatures to his work.  Everything about brings to mind his larger storage jars!  This jar is beautifully polished and has been fired stunning red coloration.  It is published in the book, "Born of Fire" on page 126.  Richard was 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 passed away in June, 2010 and his sons Jerome and Jason continue in the family tradition of creating exceptional traditional Santa Clara pottery.

9.5"w x 9.5"h

$5900.00

Sarena Ebelacker (b. 1985) - Santa Clara   NEW

We are very pleased to add the pottery of Sarena Ebelacker to the gallery.  She is a daughter of noted potter James Ebelacker, a granddaughter of Virginia Ebelacker and a great-granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  Her pottery uses traditional techniques but with a very modern appearance.  The seedpot on the left has a square feather pattern around the neck and a stylized lightning bolt carved into the clay.  The lightning is a micaceous clay while the remainder of the piece is polished red.  The bowl on the right is deeply carved with a series of "tiles". She said she was inspired to create this design while looking at the floor in her grandmother's home.  One of the squares has a bear paw in the style of Virginia Ebelacker.  Sarena has won awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured on the cover of Native People's magazine as one of four "Emerging Potters: Generation Next" in 2010.  She is definitely a potter to watch!

Left:        Seedpot with Lightning Design            5"w x 5.5"h            $850.00

Right:     Black bowl with Tile Design                  7.75"w x 4.25"h    $1000.00

    Virginia Ebelacker (1925-2001) - Santa Clara  

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

5.25"w x 7.25"h

$1800.00

Jody Folwell - Santa Clara  

Jody Folwell is has long been an innovator in Pueblo pottery, since her evolutionary work of the 1970's when she began firing her pottery with brown colorations and utilizing non-traditional design elements.  Today, Jody continues to evolve in her art and each piece brings together different aspects of her long history of making pottery.  Here are two distinctive pieces of her pottery.  Here 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!   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".

4.5"w x 4"h

$2000.00

Jody Folwell - Santa Clara  NEW

Simple perfection!  While Jody is often masterful of more modern forms, it is exciting when she takes on more traditional shapes.  This elegant double shoulder water jar is just stunning with a narrow base and double shoulder and slightly turned out neck.  It is not just the shape but the polished surface which gives this pieces such beauty.  Jody has wet-polished the jar so it almost seems to have a satin appearance, bringing to mind more historic vessels.  Yet the shape and style still have Jody's modern touch and somehow it still resonates as her work.  Again, simple perfection!  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".

11"w x 11.25"h

$3000.00

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

$2800.00

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

$850.00

   Polly Rose Folwell - Santa Clara  

Polly is a daughter of Jody Folwell and a sister of Susan Folwell. While Polly is well known for her incised patterns, she also creates stunning classic forms.  Here are two pieces from different stages of her career.  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            $900.00

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 three of her smaller pieces.  The jar on the left is asymmetrical in form with an incised rim. The body of piece is painted with a series of interconnected birds.  They are perfectly in balance with the unique shape of the jar.  The seedpot in the center is fully polished and very tightly incised. There is a single bird as the central design with corn and feather patterns on the opposite side.  Susan has used a micaceous clay slip on this piece which she then polished, creating a wonderful appearance when it is struck by the light!  The jar on the right is wonderful in the complexity of its designs.  There is a single bird medallion on one side. The remainder of the piece is fully polished and has corn and star patterns eminating throughout. Simply striking!  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:        Assymmtrical Jar with Birds               5"w x 5.5"h                $800.00 - SOLD

Center:   Seedpot with Bird and Feathers        4"w x 3"h                   $600.00

Right:     Polished Jar with Bird and Stars        4.25"w x 5"h             $825.00 - SOLD

Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    NEW

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. This large vessel is a stunning use of form and design.  The shape of the jar has an undulating form, with a high shoulder, a round bas and an asymmetrical rim. The shape, however, seems perfectly matched to the design, as the imagery of the birds gives a sense of motion to the piece.  The birds are all polished and they are incised into the clay.  They are surrounded by incised star and moon patterns.  She also has her "lucky coin" design, the circle with a line through it.  Note the beautiful change of colors and design as the jar is turned! The entire piece is fully designed and the surface combines natural clay slips and wood stains to create the colorations.  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.

6.5"w x 15"h

$3600.00

Susan Folwell - Santa Clara    NEW

This large open bowl or plate is simple but elegant piece from Susan Folwell. The bowl is plain on the outside, while the center has a series of wolves running around the inside rim and encircling the central medallion is a ring of traditional Santa Clara designs.  The wolf in the center is a classic design for Susan, with a Moon for the face!  Take a moment to view the third image above and note the intricacy of the design work and the background "x's" surrounding the wolf!  Susan has an amazing affinity for animals and dogs in particular and the work on this piece bring to life her social passion with her artistic vision.   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 was most recently featured in the "Mothers and Daughters" exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

12.75"w x 3.5"h

$1800.00

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 was most recently featured in the "Mothers and Daughters" exhibit at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ.

12" diameter

$1500.00

     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 classic style imagery.  The bowl on the left has a stylized avanyu with an angular back which as the bowl is turned looks like a mountain design.  The bowl on the right is inspired by the traditional dances at Santa Clara Pueblo.  Reminiscent of the traditional "two-dimensional" style of Pueblo painting, the male and female corn dancers are depicted on this bowl.  Take a closer look to see the intricacies of the figures and the detail on their dresses and around the rim!  Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years at Santa Fe Indian Market and has work in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

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

Right:     Bowl with Corn Dancers               3"w x 2.75"h                $700.00

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 pieces are both fired black.  The bowl on the left has a classic avanyu as the design, encircling the bowl.  There is a single inset piece of turquoise for the eye.  The seedpot on the right has two hummingbirds etched into the clay.  They are in flight and note there is also a small sunface in the sky!  The red is additional clay slip which is added.  Gloria Garcia is a daughter of Petra Gutierrez and a sister of potters Minnie Vigil, Lois Gutierrez and the mother of Jason Garcia.  Gloria is known for her intricately incised miniature pottery.  Gloria has won numerous awards for her pottery over the years at Santa Fe Indian Market and has work in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.

Left:        Bowl with Avanyu                            2.75"w x 2.25"h        $500.00

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

      Greg Garcia (1962 - 2010) - Santa Clara  NEW

Greg Garcia was a brother of Tina Garcia and Virginia Garcia and grandson of Severa Tafoya.  He was renown for his re-creation of classic Santa Clara forms.  While not working on as large a scale as his sister, he created beautifully built smaller thin walled vessels.  Here are two beautiful pieces of his pottery.  On the left is a simple open bowl, fully polished red on the exterior. The water jar on the right is an exceptional piece of his pottery.  The lip is flute and there is a double shoulder which is just slightly depressed in the clay, making for a wonderful play on the light. The entire piece is fully polished and an elegant form!  Both pieces are in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Greg won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market, and his work can also be found in museums around the country.

Left:        Red Open Bowl                        5"w x 3"h        $275.00

Right:     Large Black Water Jar             6"w x 6.75"h    $650.00 - SOLD   

    Jason Garcia - Santa Clara   NEW

Jason Garcia is fascinated with  the juxtaposition of contemporary and Pueblo culture. These two new tiles capture the connection of the traditional dancers and modern technology.  On the left is a tile entitled, "Corn Maiden #17" and it is part of the Corn Maiden Series.  The additional title is, "Mobile Upload".  It depicts a girl in her traditional dress wearing a tablita on her head.  She is holding her cell phone to take a picture of herself after the ceremonial dance! Note in the background the traditional rain clouds and the outline of the kiva and the pueblo buildings.  On the right is "Corn Maiden #19" and one of the dancers is sitting  on an overturned ladder talking on her cell phone.  Jason seems to have captured the dancer in that moment between the dances and creates the wonderment of who she is talking to while glancing over her shoulder. 

Each piece is a hand built clay tile, made from native clay.  All of the colors are derived from Native clay. Each of his tiles is a perfect balance between the traditional "two-dimensional" Pueblo artwork and realism.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.

Left:             "Mobile Upload"           6.5" x 9"        $1200.00

Right:          Corn  Maiden #19         6.5" x 9"        $1200.00

  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. The tile on the left is a Santa Clara potter polishing a piece of pottery.  The imagery is inspired by a classic photograph by Curtis, which Jason has expanded on with his out imagery.  Note the intricate designs in the dress and shirt, which are amazing that they can be so detailed painted with clay!  As well, the use of the natural clay color for the background is striking.  The tile on the right has a classic female butterfly dancer from Santa Clara pueblo.  The dancer is holding a frog, which she is kissing.  Take a closer look at the piece, as the detail is fantastic!  Note as well the rain cloud at the upper right, which is a classic style of two-dimensional painting from the Pueblos. 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:        Santa Clara Potter                                7" x 9"h            $900.00

Right:     Butterfly Maiden and Frog                7" x 9"h            $1200.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

This box from Jason Garcia is among his most detailed in design.  The imagery is of a Summer Corn Maiden dancer on one side, and the Winter Corn Maiden dancer on the other. They are each looking up to the clouds, awaiting either rain or snow.  Separating the two figures are two panels with traditional rain and snow designs.  The coloration and flow of imagery is simply perfect!  Take a closer look at the above images, as they detail in the faces and on the clothing is stunning!  It is amazing that Jason uses only natural clay slips to create the designs on his pottery.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.  His work is currently in the traveling museum exhibit, "Comic Art Indigene" and his work was written up in "Art Ltd." magazine.

5"w x 5.5"w x 4.75"h

$1200.00

  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       $325.00

Right:         Sunrise Tile                      9"long x 5"h         $250.00

Jason Garcia - Santa Clara  

This box is a stunning piece of storytelling from Jason Garcia.  It continues in his series of "Corn Maiden" Dancers, and each of the four panels flows seamlessly into the next.  Each of the girls is wearing a tablita, and they are all caught in a moment after the dances.  One with her camera, one texting, one using her cell phone and the final one on her cell phone eating cotton candy!  Note in the background the both the Pueblo kiva ladder, the church and also a TV antenna on a pueblo building.  Jason brings together the traditional nature of the dances, but also captures moments in time in a contemporary context.  Take a moment and check out the images above, as the detail on the piece is simply outstanding.  It is amazing that Jason uses only natural clay slips to create the designs on his pottery.  Jason has won numerous prestigious awards for his tiles at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Market and he has been featured in books and magazine articles on Native pottery.  His work is currently in the traveling museum exhibit, "Comic Art Indigene" and his work was written up in "Art Ltd." magazine.

4.5"w x 4.75"w x 4.25"h

$1400.00 - SOLD

    Tammy Garcia - Santa Clara  

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   NEW

This is a beautifully carved small seed jar by Tammy Garcia.  It was made in 1995 and has a carved avanyu as the design.  The entire piece is fully carved with a complicated series of geometric patterns making up the body of the water serpent.  Tammy is a daughter of Linda Cain, sister of Autumn Borts-Medlock, granddaughter of Mary Cain and great-granddaughter of Christina Naranjo.  Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery and most recently was the subject of a one-woman exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. This jar is accompanied by a copy of her book, "Tammy Garcia: Form Without Boundaries".

3.5"w x 3"h

$3800.00

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                $175.00

Right:           Brown Bowl              8.25"w x 3.75"h         $250.00

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

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

   Art Cody Haungooah (1943 - 1983) - Kiowa  

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

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

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

Art Cody Haungooah (1943 - 1983) - Kiowa  

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

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

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

Dean Haungooah is the son of noted potter, Art Cody Haungooah.  He has continued in his father's style of sgraffito pottery with very detailed imagery.  The seedpot on the left has a incised bird as the central part of the design.  This piece is also featured in the book, "Pueblo Indian Pottery" 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

Joseph Lonewolf - Santa Clara   NEW

This small seedpot reflects the evolution of Joseph's pottery over the 1970's. This piece was made in 1979 and it is very detailed, with four Mimbres inspired animals.  There is a running Mimbres style antelope on one side. On the other is a Mimbres elk and another Mimbres antelope.  They are surrounded by a series of cloud and rain patterns and the yearly symbol on the piece is a dragonfly in a polished medallion. This seedpot is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Joseph Lonewolf is a son of noted potter Camilio Tafoya, and the brother of Grace Medicine Flower.  It is definitely exciting to find pieces of Joseph's pottery in this size and with such classic imagery! Each piece is accompanied by the book, "The Pottery Jewels of Joseph Lonewolf".

1.5"w x 1.5"h

$1800.00

  Joseph Lonewolf - Santa Clara   NEW

This charming red seedpot is from the early 1990's and it is one of Joseph's classic "storytelling" pieces.  Here the central figure is a man who is fishing.  He is carved in relief on the surface of the seedpot. There is a crane which has landed on his back and is trying to take the fish out of his hands!  As the seedpot is turned the inside of the crane is revealed with a fish inside.  There is wonderful detail around the entire piece, including the fishing pole and the face of the human figure.  As well, all the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.   Joseph was among the first Pueblo potters to utilize various clays to create different colors on his pottery. Near the base is a medallion denoting the year it was made and also a finely etched butterfly just on the surface of the clay.  The seedpot is in perfect condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Joseph Lonewolf is a son of noted potter Camilio Tafoya, and the brother of Grace Medicine Flower.  It is definitely exciting to find pieces of Joseph's pottery in this size and with such classic imagery! Each piece is accompanied by the book, "The Pottery Jewels of Joseph Lonewolf".

1.25"w x 1.5"h

$2900.00

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 Raccoon            2"w x 2"h                    $600.00

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

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.  They are each holding watermelon and there is a dog lying at their feet.  When the bowl is turned over there is a dog carved in relief begging for some watermelon!  The polychrome parts of the bowl are all created from natural 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! 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.

6"w x 4"h

$8200.00

Jennifer Moquino - Santa Clara   NEW

This wonderful bowl has a group scene of Big Horn Sheep encircling the entire piece.  They are each intricately incised into the clay with amazing detail for the fur and the horns.  It is not just the Big Horns which are so stunning, but the way she etched and then slipped the white clouds in the background and the birds flying the sky.  The rim is fully etched with a feather and cloud pattern using traditional Santa Clara designs.  The entire piece is fully incised, all the colors used to highlight the animals and the canyon are derived from natural clay slips, which Jennifer finds herself.  Jennifer is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino. Their 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".  Her work can also be found in the permanent collections of the Heard Museum and the Denver Art Museum.

3"w x 3.5"h

$1600.00

    Jennifer Moquino - Santa Clara   NEW

It is not often that we get individual fish from Jennifer.  Each of this fish are made from clay and then fully incised and then highlighted with additional clay slips.  They are amazingly intricate in their designs and motion.  All of the colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Jennifer is a daughter of Ray and Emily Tafoya while Mike is a son of Corn Moquino. Their 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".  Her work can also be found in the permanent collections of the Heard Museum and the Denver Art Museum.

Left:        Fish            3.5" long            $135.00 - SOLD

Right:     Fish            3.25" long          $125.00 - 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 long neck jar is a wonderful shape and it is fully designed with two medallions. On one side is a badger, and note the detail in the fur, the eyes and even the fungus growing on the log beside the badger!  On the other side is a small mouse, perfectly detailed down to the tiny claws!!  The space on the sides is fully designed with flowers and there is also a traditional avanyu which extends up around the badger medallion.  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 3.25"h

$975.00 - SOLD

  Bernice Naranjo - Santa Clara  

Bernice Naranjo is a daughter-in-law of noted potter Rose Naranjo, the mother of Forest Naranjo and Dusty Naranjo. She is also the sister of potters Jody Folwell and Nora Naranjo-Morse.  Each piece of her work is coil built, stone polished and native fired brown.  It is then incised at various levels to create a variety of depths and textures.  This jar has an asymmetrical rim and the entire piece is fully polished and incised.  There are a series of lizards extending up from the base towards the neck.  The area surrounding the lizards is also fully incised.  Note the variety of colors derived from the firing, as the jar varies from dark to light brown.  Dusty has won awards for her work at Santa Fe Indian Market an continues to be an exciting innovator in Pueblo pottery.

3"w x 5"h

$250.00 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            $75.00

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

Dusty Naranjo - Santa Clara  

Dusty Naranjo is a daughter of noted potter Bernice Naranjo, the sister of Forest Naranjo and niece of potters Jody Folwell and Nora Naranjo-Morse.  Each piece of her work is coil built, stone polished and native fired brown.  It is then incised at various levels to create a variety of depths and textures.  This jar has an asymmetrical rim which is matte.  Around the body of the piece are a series of incised horses which encircle the entire piece.  The polished area around the horses has also been fully incised with very intricate designs!  Note the variety of colors derived from the firing, as the jar varies from dark to light brown.  Dusty has won awards for her work at Santa Fe Indian Market an continues to be an exciting innovator in Pueblo pottery.

4.5"w x 5.5"h

$400.00 - SOLD

Forrest Naranjo - Santa Clara  

Forrest Naranjo is a son of noted potter Bernice Naranjo, the brother of Dusty Naranjo and nephew of potters Jody Folwell and Nora Naranjo-Morse.  Each piece of his work is coil built, stone polished and native fired brown.  This is a beautiful bowl which is a very unusual shape for his pottery.  It is a melon bowl, with large ribs which are at an angle on the piece.  The entire piece is then fully stone polished.  The design is a series of mudhead dancers encircling the entire piece.  Each is different in movement and design!  The various of colors in the bowl are derived from the firing, as the jar varies from dark to light brown.  Forrest has won awards for his work at Santa Fe Indian Market an continues to be an exciting innovator in Pueblo pottery.

3.5"w x 2.5"h

$250.00 - SOLD

   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.  These two seedpots are smaller pieces of her work, but amazingly intricate in their designs.  The jar on the left has a series of deer encircling the piece.  They are each fully designed and there are birds sitting on their backs.  Note that at the bottom of the jar there are flowers incised into the clay, which then extend up wards into the polished surface!  The seedpot on the right is a Pueblo scene, with the classic adobe pueblos and accompanying church which is found in each of the Pueblo.  Note the mountain design in the background.  the entire piece is fully polished and fired a dark brown. 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.

Left:        Jar with Deer and Birds                        2.25"w x 3.5"h        $700.00

Right:     Seedpot with Pueblos & Churches    3"w x 3.5"h             $700.00 - SOLD

Kevin Naranjo & Marian Rose Naranjo - Santa Clara    

This jar is from the early 1990's and was a collaborative piece by Kevin Naranjo and Marian Rose Naranjo.  Kevin is the son of noted potter Geri Naranjo and he did the incised designs on the bowl.  Marian Rose is a sister of potter Paul Naranjo, and she made the jar.  They began working together in the early 1990's and they made a fantastic team.  Marian created beautiful shapes such as this piece, with wide shoulders and elongated necks and a very high polish.  Kevin learned much of his incising technique from Paul Naranjo, especially about designing animals on his pottery.  This stunning piece is a larger example of their pottery and it is fully designed.  There is a single large elk on one side and there is a forest design around the remainder of the piece.  Around the neck is a water serpent (avanyu) and a feather pattern.  The bottom is also fully incised with plant designs.  After the piece was polished, fired and incised, then Kevin would "two-tone" the designs to create the brown and black colorations.  At the time their work was definitely something new and they won numerous awards for their pottery.  This jar is in excellent condition and it is a beautiful reflection of their artistic skills.  While they no longer work together, they both continue to make pottery today.

5"w x 3"h

$3000.00

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 - SOLD   

    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 bear on the right has an incised sun face design incised into the clay.  One the sides are two inset pieces of turquoise and on the back is an arrowhead held in place with coral and turquoise beads.  There are additional incised feathers and geometric designs around the entire piece.  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:     Bear with Turquoise                          3.5" long x 2.5"h       $500.00 - 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

      Toni Roller (b. 1935) - Santa Clara    

Toni Roller is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and a sister of noted potters LuAnn Tafoya, Shirley Tafoya, Mary Ester Archuleta and Mela Youngblood.  Her pottery always has a wonderful sense of form and design.  These two bowls reflect two different style of her pottery.  On the left is a melon bowl with deeply carved ribs and a very high polish.  The bowl on the right has a deeply carved wind pattern which encircles the entire bowl.  Note the depth of her carving along with the attention to detail, such as polishing the inside of the lip.  Toni is committed to the precision of her pottery this piece is a perfect reflection of that commitment.  Toni has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Market and she has been featured in several books. 

Left:        Melon Bowl                            5.5"w x 3.5"h        $980.00

Right:     Bowl with Wind Pattern      5.25"w x 3.75"h    $1200.00 - 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

$2200.00

     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 - SOLD

Center:        Plate w/ Avanyu                                     1.25" diameter             $150.00

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

  Helen Shupla (1928-1985) - Santa Clara  

While Helen Shupla is best known for her melon bowls, she was also amazingly creative at her carved pottery designs. Here are two classic examples of her pottery.  The bowl on the left has a classic style water serpent (avanyu) as the design carved into the clay.   The piece is not just a simple linear pattern, but note the wonderful flow of the back of the avanyu as the bowl is turned!  The complexity of the carving is in complement to the high polish and excellent form to her work.  The bowl on the right is a very unusual form with square sides.  There are alternating designs of rain and lighting designs with rain and cloud patterns.  Both pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is certainly a wonderful example of her creativity as an artist!

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

Right:     Square Bowl with Rain Designs       6"w x 4.5"h              $1000.00 - SOLD

    Helen Shupla (1928-1985) - Santa Clara  

Helen Shupla is one of the few potters whose name has become synonymous with a particular style of pottery; the melon bowl.  The ribs on these pieces are pushed out from the inside when the clay is wet.  That is why there is often a slight turn to the ribs, as they are turned when she would twist her hand against the inside of the clay.  As they are based on a natural form the tend to have a very organic appearance.  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 

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 is a very intricately carved open bowl. The design is a series of deeply carved feathers emanating out from a central medallion.  The outside is also fully polished.  It is beautifully polished and deeply carved.  The open bowl is from the 1970's and it is in excellent condition.  Mary has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market.

8.75"w x 2.5"h

$800.00 - 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 bowl is one of the larger early incised pieces we have seen of Camilio's pottery.  It is from the late 1960's and is a typical shape for his pottery and a highly polished black with a two-tone brown rim.  On the rim is an incised water serpent.  The incised design is a bit cruder than his later pottery, but certainly a reflection of the earlier time period for this particular piece.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, "Camilio Tafoya".  It is in excellent condition, with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

5"w x 3"h

$1200.00

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

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

Left:               Seedpot with Avanyu                               2.5"w x 1.75"h        $1200.00

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

Right:            Seedpot with two Shields                        2.25"w x 1.25"h      $850.00

Camilio Tafoya's name has become synonymous with the intricate miniature sgraffito pottery he began creating in the 1970's.  The seedpot on the left is from 1975 and has medallions on each side. One side ahs a deer and fawn while the other has a wild turkey.  The area between the two medallions has a raincloud pattern.  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 the then new technique of incising into the surface of the clay!

Left:               Red Seedpot w/ Deer & Wild Turkey   2.25"w x 2"h           $1200.00

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

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

$300.00 - SOLD

Linda Tafoya-Sanchez - Santa Clara   

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 jar on the left is 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 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 Bear Paw                                                 7"w x 7"h          $2000.00 - SOLD

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

LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

It is not often that LuAnn creates one of her classic jars with a red and tan polished combination!  This long neck jar has is fully polished on the neck and near the base.  Around the center is a water serpent (avanyu), which is a traditional Pueblo design.   Note the intricacy of the design of the avanyu as the jar is turned!   On this large jar LuAnn has polished the central section tan.  The coloration of the red is derived from the red clay slip which is then stone polished.  Interestingly, the tan polished area is technically the most difficult color to achieve in Santa Clara pottery as no slip is used, only water, and then it is stone polished. LuAnn is one of the few potters at Santa Clara who continues to make such large vessels.  As well, few are able to polish large areas with her skill and achieve such a luminescent shine!  LuAnn has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her work can be found in the permanent collection of numerous museums around the country. 

11"w x 15.5"h

$6800.00 - SOLD

LuAnn Tafoya - Santa Clara    

This tall water jar is an iconic vessel from LuAnn Tafoya. The jar has a double shoulder, which is technically difficult to create.  The neck is elongated and there is a slight turn out to the rim.  What is so spectacular is the polishing!  To achieve such a high shine to a jar this size, the entire piece has to be polished at one time!  It is entirely polished with a stone and a wet clay slip and then outdoor fired to turn it black.  There are also four bear paws around the neck, which have been impressed into the clay and then polished.  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. 

11"w x 14"h

$6200.00 - SOLD

  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

$2400.00

   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

$4000.00

"Born of Fire:  The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya"

by Charles S. King

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

-The Bloomsbury Review - 2008

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

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

Hardcover, 160 pages

$45.00 

Ray Tafoya (1956-1994) - Santa Clara   NEW

Ray Tafoya was an innovator in incised pottery with his use of Mimbres designs and larger plain surfaces with highlighted designs. He was a brother of Paul Speckled Rock and Kenneth Tafoya.  He was a grandson of Severa Tafoya and the husband of Emily Tafoya and the father of Jennifer Moquino.  Here are two exceptional pieces of his pottery.  The seedpot on the left is conical in shape and has a Mimbres style mountain lion as the central design encircling the top of the piece.  The larger green seedpot on the right has a flute player as the design.  The figure is surrounded by traditional Santa Clara designs and a beautiful combination of natural clay colors.  Both pieces were made in 1985 and are in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Over the course of his career, Paul won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and other events.  This piece is certainly a beautiful example of his intricate style of incised pottery! 

Left:            Black Seedpot with Mt. Lion            1.5"w x 2"h        $600.00 - SOLD

Right:         Green Seedpot with Flute Player     2"w x 2.5"h        $700.00

Sara Fina Tafoya (1863 - 1949) - Santa Clara   NEW

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

8.75"w x 4.5"h

$4500.00

 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                       $2800.00 - SOLD

Right:        Bowl with Bear Paws                                             7"w x 2.75"h                      $2200.00

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                $500.00

Right:         Red Jar w/ Avanyu     2.75"w x 3.25"h      $700.00

Jennie Trammel (b. 1929) - Santa Clara  

Jennie Trammel is the second oldest daughter of noted potter Margaret Tafoya.  While she is no longer making pottery, her pieces were exceptional wonderful shapes and an exceptional polish to the surface. This bowl reflects her talent with a very highly polished red surface. The design is a rain and lightning pattern which encircles the entire piece.  Note the wonderful shape, with the slight curve at the neck!  This bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Jennie's pottery has been featured in numerous books, including "Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya". 

7.25"w x 6"h

$3300.00 - SOLD

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  

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  

Daryl is the son of noted potter LuAnn Tafoya, and the grandson of Margaret Tafoya.  He began making pottery about eight years ago and has committed himself to creating classic Santa Clara style pottery. This is a striking piece by with a highly polished neck and base. The carving in the central band is more shallow, creating almost the appearance of the design in relief!  The design on this jar is a water serpent (avanyu), which encircles the entire body of the vessel.  Daryl has beautifully carved the design so as the jar is rotated there is a series of complex geometric patterns.  Note as well the half-circle design above the avanyu, which is beautiful on this shape!  Daryl has won numerous awards for his pottery over the past several years, and this jar won an "Honorable Mention" at the Heard Museum Indian Market in 2010. He has also won the "Utilitarian Pottery" special award at Santa Fe Indian Market. He is certainly a potter to watch!

6.5"w x 10.25"h

$2500.00

     Daryl Whitegeese - Santa Clara  

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 - SOLD

Lucy Yearflower - Santa Clara  

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

2.5"w x 2.25"h

$400.00

  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   NEW

This bowl is a unique shape for Nancy's swirls.  It is more of a classic bowl shape and there are 32 ribs, which are carved to a very sharp edge. The extend from the rim to the base with a slight swirl to the form.  It is amazing how she is able to have them switch direction just at the shoulder of the jar and then again at the base, accenting the form.  The polish is exceptional and perfectly highlights the deeply carved ribs.  Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya.  When she first began making pottery, she started with miniatures, focusing on creating very intricate form and tightly carved designs.  She was inspired to begin making the swirl melon bowls when she saw one by her great-uncle Camilio Tafoya.  This bowl is amazingly polished to a high, glossy shine and is in perfect condition.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

5.5"w x 5"h

$8800.00

     Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

This tall jar is an elegant shape for Nancy's classic "S" swirl ribbed melon bowl.  The piece is perfectly balanced on a narrow base extending up to a round shoulder and narrow mouth.  The angle of the swirls accentuate the shape of the vessel.  It is exceptional that she can create pieces with such a small base and yet they are perfectly balanced.  Each rib is stone polished to create a high shine and the angles of the ribs reflect the light beautifully.  Nancy Youngblood is a daughter of Mela Youngblood and a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya and the mother of Chris Youngblood.  When she first began making pottery, she started with miniatures, focusing on creating very intricate form and tightly carved designs.  She was inspired to begin making the swirl melon bowls when she saw one by her great-uncle Camilio Tafoya.  This bowl is amazingly polished to a high, glossy shine and is in perfect condition.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

5.5"w x 6.25"h

$12,000.00

Nancy Youngblood - Santa Clara  

It is not often the we such an intricate and small sized vessel by Nancy Youngblood here in the gallery. This lidded bowl has 32 carved and polished sections with shells.  Each shell is carved and then the ends are rounded.  It is like eleven little melon ribs on the end of each shell!  The top and base are fully polished and the shells on the lid are also polished.  Note the beautiful contrast of the matte background to the highly polished carved surfaces! This piece 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.  This bowl is amazingly polished to a high, glossy shine and is in perfect condition.  Nancy has won "Best of Pottery" and "Best of Show" at Santa Fe Indian Market and been featured in numerous books on Pueblo pottery including "The Art of Clay", "Crafted to Perfection", "Born of Fire" and others.

3.25"w x 4.25"h (w/ lid)

$7800.00 - SOLD

     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 - SOLD

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

This small bowl is a classic example of Nathan's unique tri-color style of pottery.  The rim and base are fully polished with a tan slip.  The central area is deeply carved with the design of an avanyu.  The central carved area is fully polished red and creates a beautiful contrast to the tan areas above and below.  Interestingly, the tan polished area is technically the most difficult color to achieve in Santa Clara pottery as no slip is used, only water, and then it is stone polished.  After a piece is fired Nathan then scrapes down the background area and sides of the carving to create the striking visual contrast of between the matte and polished surfaces. He learned to make pottery from his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) and continues in the family legacy of extraordinary pottery created using traditional methods.  He has been written about in books including The Art of Clay, Beyond Traditions and 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery.  His work is in the White House Collection of American Crafts, the only Native American Indian artist to be represented in the collection. 

5.75"w x 3"h

$4000.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

This elegant jar is a classic water jar form from Nathan Youngblood.  The design tells the story of a day at the pueblo.  The first image above shows the rising sun and around the neck is an avanyu (water serpent).  As the jar is turned there are the clouds rolling in and the rain falling.  In the third image above the setting sun medallion can be seen, surrounded by clouds.  The color of the red in this jar is simply spectacular!  It is a deep, rich red. The rim and base are both polished tan and the area below the shoulder is another water serpent carved into the clay.  The contrast of matte and polished surfaces along with the red and tan is visually striking!  The polished tan areas are technically the most difficult color to achieve in Santa Clara pottery as no slip is used, only water, and then it is stone polished.  After the jar is fired Nathan then scrapes down the background area and sides of the carving to create the strong visual contrast of between the matte and polished surfaces.  He is the only Pueblo potter who takes the time to employ this technically difficult and very time consuming task. 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. We are pleased to be one of only two galleries nationwide to represent his spectacular pottery

6.75"w x 9.75"h

$16,000.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara   NEW

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 black circular box is fired black and has a cloud and rain pattern.  The lid has been fired tan and it is also fully carved.  The contrast of the two firing techniques is simply stunning.  Note as well the micaceous clay used around the rim of the box.  Typical of Nathan's pottery, the polish on this piece is stunning, with a water-like appearance. 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!

5.5"w x 3"h

$5500.00

Nathan Youngblood - Santa Clara  

While Nathan is renown for his larger pottery, his smaller pieces are both beautifully formed and intricately carved.  It is not often that we get in his smaller pieces, especially the melon bowls.  Tihs piece has 16 ribs which are carved at an angle into the clay.  There is also a single pair of incised deer tracks (from Nathan's Tewa name meaning Deer Path), incised right near the rim. The bowl is 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.

5.25"w x 3.5"h

$3600.00