Suina, Marie Charlotte – Male Storyteller with Two Children (1980s)

Marie Charlotte Suina (1964-2010) was a great-granddaughter of Juan and Estefanita Arquero Herrera a granddaughter of Eluterio and Berina Cordero.  She was a daughter of Ada Suina and Tony Suina, Jr. and a sister of Caroline Grace Suina, Maria Suina, and Patty Suina.  Marie learned to make pottery from her mother.  This is a classic storyteller made from Cochiti clay and painted with bee-weed (black) and red clay slip.  The male figure is wearing a bolo tie and has two kids on his lap.  The first storytellers by Helen Cordero were men, made to honor her grandfather.  It is a charming piece. The storyteller is signed on the bottom, “Marie C. Suina”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.