Shirley “Cactus Blossom” Tafoya was famous for her miniature pottery.  Each piece is coil-built, stone-polished, and traditionally fired.  This is one of her few plates.  It is carved on the front with an avanyu, and then the front is fully polished.  The back is matte.  The avanyu is VERY deeply carved into the plate for the size.  Note how she even painted the tiny mouth on the avanyu!  The plate was fired a glassy black.  Shirley was so wonderfully talented and her miniatures were among the most refined for their size and appearance.  This piece is signed, “Shirley Cactus Blossom Tafoya”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.