Christina Naranjo

Christina Naranjo was a daughter of Sara Fina Tafoya and Geronimo Tafoya, and a sister of Margaret Tafoya and Camilio Tafoya. She was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters including daughters Mary Cain, Teresita Naranjo, and great-granddaughters Tammy Garcia and Autumn Borts-Medlock. Christina’s pottery can be found in museums nationwide and in books such as “7 Families in Pueblo Pottery.”

Christina used the Santa Clara traditional methods of hand-coliled pottery, shaped, sanded and stone polished to a high shine, then fired in a open fire, and utilizing manure for the final process for her black pottery.  Many of Christina’s pots are deep carved with various patterns but often reflecting the Avanyu designed and carved very deeply around the bowl.