Artist Media Series
Living Artists
Historic
Small, Mary – Polychrome Jar with Cloud and Flower Designs (1991)
7"w x 7"h
$ 450.00
Mary Small (1940-2024) was known for her traditional Jemez pottery. It is not just her painting that wass distinctive, but the gray clay she uses is distinctive to her pottery. This jar has a wide shoulder and sloping side. The rim has a feather designs and around the top of the shoulder are clouds. Below the shoulder are bird and tightly painted plant designs. The jar has a striking coloration from the white, gray, and the firing. It is signed on the bottom, “Mary Small”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
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Description
Mary Small (1940-2024) was known for her traditional Jemez pottery. It is not just her painting that wass distinctive, but the gray clay she uses is distinctive to her pottery. This jar has a wide shoulder and sloping side. The rim has a feather designs and around the top of the shoulder are clouds. Below the shoulder are bird and tightly painted plant designs. The jar has a striking coloration from the white, gray, and the firing. It is signed on the bottom, “Mary Small”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
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Small, Mary Toya (1940-2024)
Mary Small (1940-2024) was known for her creative traditional Jemez Pueblo pottery. Her name in Towa was “Kal-la-Tee”, meaning “New Indian Basket”. She learned to make pottery from her mother, Perfectita Toya. She was married to Simon Small. She uses a unique gray slip as part of her painted designs. It has become a distinctive visual cue to her exceptional pottery. Each piece is made using native clay, coil-built, and hand-painted. Mary Small has been quoted as saying: "When my pottery is finished, they are blessed. They have power."
Mary began participating in various art shows around 1973. She earned many ribbons during her career, including a First Prize at Santa Fe Indian Market in 1981 and a First Prize at the Powhatan Renape Nation Indian Arts Festival in 1999. Other ribbons came from the Heard Museum Guild Indian Arts Fair & Market, the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonial, and the New Mexico State Fair. Mary was also chosen as the Indian Arts and Crafts Association Artist of the Year in 2002.