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These are all the New Additions which have been added for the last 30 days.
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During the 1950’s Margaret Tafoya often made more “tourist” items like these candlesticks. She would travel with her family to Colorado and the Garden of the Gods for the summer. Her husband, Alcario, and her children would perform and she would make pottery. These candlesticks are in the shape of a pair of mocassins. They are twisted, which is always more difficult for polishing and firing. They are fully stone polished and one of the pair is signed. They are in very good condition with no chips, cracks. restoration or repair. It is not often that we come across candlesticks in such great condition. It is great to see that many of Margaret’s descendants continue on in the tradition of making this form as a recognition of her tenacity and creativity as an artist.
$ 2,200.00
This large jar is by Margaret Tafoya and her mother, SaraFina Tafoya, is from the 1930’s. The jar is large and the handles are distinctive to SaraFina with the fingers. These are her classic style of handles, which were originally inspired by seeing them in books on Greek and Roman pottery. The handles also extend from the rim to the shoulder, which is how SaraFina always made her handles. The jar itself is a shape that both Margaret and SaraFina made during their careers. What makes the jar unusual is the painted birds on both sides. This black-on-black style of painted bird may well have been painted by Manuel Tafoya, who was Margaret’s brother. He painted a lot of pottery for his mother and sister and the intricate detail in the design is typical of his painting. What makes the birds even more unique is their style. They are certainly inspired by the Hopi-Tewa birds in the style of Nampeyo of Hano. Of course, Nampeyo was famous by the early 1900’s and her work influenced numerous other potters at both Santa Clara and San Ildefonso. In such a combination of artistry, there is the final touch, which is Margaret’s signature on the bottom of the jar! Overall, the jar is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Obviously, the surface is rough which maybe from it being lower fired so that it scratched easily, or just handling over the years. However, the overall design and form are well intact. Simply an amazing piece of history!
$ 12,000.00
This is one of the few polychrome pieces Margaret Tafoya. The wedding vase is from the 1920’s and it is on p. 50 in the Born of Fire book. The entire piece is fully polished red and the avanyu is painted with various clay slips. There are subtle variations of the gray clay slip on the body. Note as well that the water serpents (avanyu) are different on each side. The polychrome work by Margaret is some of the rarest of her work as much of it was made in the 1920’s and 1930’s and it has not survived well. It was quickly supplanted by the polished and carved blackware, which was more popular at the time. The wedding vase is signed, “Margaret” on the bottom. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 15,000.00
This is a striking fully polished plate by Margaret Tafoya. It is featured in the book, Born of Fire, on page 77. The plate is impressed with four bear paws in the clay. It has then been fully polished and fired a dark black. While her earlier plates from the 1950’s were mostly painted, in the 1960’s she varied the design to include the bear paws. There is a depth to the plate (3″) which almost makes it as much a large open bowl as a plate. The size of this plate is unusual for any potter as any plate over twelve inches is often considered a “major piece”. The bear paw design tells the story of how a bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought. The plate is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and the highly polished surface just seems to glow with the light. It is signed on the back in the clay.
$ 8,800.00
This is a large storage jar shaped vessel by Margaret Tafoya. It is featured on page 79 of the book, Born of Fire. It is one of Margaret’s classic shapes with the high shoulder and slight neck. However, what makes this very unusual besides the size, is the surface, which is designed with a series of melon swirls. There are 16 ribs carved into the clay and the entire piece is fully polished. The plainware vessels are always among the most difficult to polish, as they must be fully polished at one time or the slip will dry. Margaret did not make many of these melon rib jars at this size. One of the only other ones is in the permanent collection of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ. The jar is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are rubs on the surface and a few light scratches which are not unexpected. However, the overall strength of the polishing remains. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 18,000.00
This is a smaller scale version of Margaret Tafoya’s famous storage jars. The jar is from the 1980’s. Her storage jar form always has a high, round shoulder and impressed bear paws. Margaret always said that making them very round was more difficult than making them narrower, like her mother SaraFina Tafoya. This jar is very round and has a slight edge as it slopes up to the neck, which creates a striking play of light. The entire piece is the fully polished after the bear paws are impressed. The bear paw design tells the story of how a bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought. Both the storage jar and the bear paw have become iconic to the work of Margaret Tafoya. This jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom. The jar has a second place ribbon from the 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. The ribbon is signed by Anita Martinez and G. Andrews. The ribbon is definitely a nice addition to the provenance of her work!
$ 12,500.00
This carved bowl was made and carved by Margaret Tafoya. The bowl is featured in the book, “Born of Fire”, on p. 55. It is from the 1930’s and it has a sloping edge the piece and a very deeply carved avanyu. The avanyu is very angular in style, which is typical of Margaret’s carving. The bowl is fully polished and it is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is certainly an classic of her early pottery.
$ 4,500.00
This red bowl by Margaret Tafoya is fully polished on the inside and outside. The bowl is fired red and the cloud design around the rim is also painted in a matte red clay. The design is outlined with a white clay. This is a style which Margaret began in the 1940’s and continued through the 1960’s. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There is one small ding under one of the cloud patterns. Note as well the color variation as the bowl is turned. This is the result of the traditional firing.
$ 3,200.00
It is not often that we come across a fully polished kiva bowl by Margaret Tafoya. This bowl is fully polished on the inside and outside. The bowl has the “kiva” three step form on the sides. The holes in the kiva step areas were traditionally included so that eagle feathers could be placed in them. Margaret made a few of these throughout her career and this one has a very high polished surface. The bowl is signed on the bottom int he clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are two slip cracks, one on each side of one of the raised kiva areas. It is a difficult shape to make and the unique form often puts undue pressure on the slip when it is firing resulting in the slip cracks.
$ 1,500.00
This is a distinctive shape jar by Margaret Tafoya. The jar is featured in the book Born of Fire on p. 80. It is from the 1960’s and it is fully polished. The jar is fully polished and has handles as part of the form. Margaret noted that when she first tried handles, they were inspired by Greek and Roman pottery she had seen in a book. Typical of her handles, they extend from the neck to the shoulder. This is different than the handles of her mother, SaraFina Tafoya. The high polished and unique form work perfectly on this piece. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 7,500.00
This is one of the few polychrome pieces Margaret Tafoya. The plate is from the 1920’s and it is fully polished on the back and the front is matte with the various clay slips creating the coloration. The plate is featured on p. 45 in the book Born of Fire. Margaret said that this was one of only 12 plates that she made which were polychrome! The design is delicately painted and note the variations in color of the gray and the subtle designs in the body of the avanyu. It is quite exceptional. Margaret told the story of how she actually saw a water serpent when she was a girl and was told that seeing one predicted a long life. The plate is signed on the back. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There is one small ding on the upper edge, which is certainly not unexpected.
Harrison Jim learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law Joy “Frogwoman” Navasie. He often collaborated with Marianne Navasie on his pottery. His work combines carved designs with traditional Hopi imagery. This jar is coil built and half of it is carved with a very intricate Morning Singer Katsina. The Katsina is depicted holding an evergreen tree and climbing out of the kiva. What makes Harrison’s work so exceptional is the carving in relief of the imagery. It is as if it has been carved in wood and placed on the clay vessel! As the piece is turned, it slipped white in the style of his mother-in-law, Joy Navasie. The design on the back is a shawl pattern, which is also replicated on the sides of the katsina. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 575.00
Tina Garcia was well known for her focus on traditional shape and plainware Santa Clara pottery. This jar is one of her early classic piece. It is a beautiful shape with a wide shoulder and slightly turned out neck. The shoulder has a sharp edge and then drops down as it rises up to the neck. This is a technically difficult technique to master and it is one at which Tina was among the best! This jar is one of the few we have seen which is fired brown. The color and the way the light hits the jar is beautiful! It is signed on the bottom and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 575.00
It is not often that we come across pottery by Margaret Tafoya from the 1940’s! This bowl is coil built, carved, stone polished and traditionally fired black. The design is very fluid around the body of the piece. I asked Nathan Youngblood (her grandson) the meaning of the design and he said it was, “Kiva steps floating in a cloud design”. There is something very beautiful about that idea! The carving is very even and the rim of the bowl is also fully polished. This fluid design is striking on the piece giving it both an ancient and very modern appearance. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,700.00
This large seedpot by Camilio Tafoya is from 1973. It is fully polished and like much of Camilio’s pottery, it tells a story. Here, the boy is hunting a rabbit on one side with a bow and arrow. He is shown on the other side returning to the village with the rabbit. Separating the two large medallions are plant designs. Camilio began creating sgraffito pottery with his daughter, Grace Medicine Flower in 1970-1 and quickly developed his own style of pottery. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. The seedpot is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 875.00
Stunning! This is an exceptional jar by Nancy Youngblood. The shape is a classic water jar with a rainbow ridge shoulder. The shape is inspired by the work of her grandmother, Margaret Tafoya, and her great-grandmother, SaraFina Tafoya. The jar has 16 ribs swirling around the neck and 16 ribs swirling towards the base! The rim is perfectly carved and polished with the inside of the rim also rounded out! It is always technically difficult to create a rim of such complexity and not have it break during the polishing! As well, note the depth of the carving on this piece. The entire bowl is fully polished which takes an extraordinary amount of time. Consider that each rib has two “sides”to be polished and the surface area of the piece is about double its size! Nancy has won numerous awards for her melon bowls and this is undoubtedly a classic of her style!
This seedpot is by Debra Trujillo (Duwyenie) and Harvey Chavarria. It is dated “8-16-83”, which means it was made for Santa Fe Indian Market in 1983. The piece is a very round seedpot with a incised hummingbird and flowers as the design. The piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 225.00
This tile by Glendora Fragua is fully polished tan. It is fully polished and designed. In the center there is a stalk of corn and a butterfly. On the sides are flowers and more butterflies. Around the edge are painted multi-color dots. The tile is framed in a black fame with green matte.
$ 250.00
Tammy Garcia is known for her contemporary designs and use of traditional clay. This jar incorporates her evolving style of carving her pieces in various layers. The open bowl has a carved Thunderbird in the center. Much in the style of historic jewelry, there are etched designs on the wings, as if they were stamped in silver. The stone in the center is a piece of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. The interior of the bowl is rounded out and the outside is rag polished at an angle. While a smaller piece, it capture the essence of Tammy’s creativity and style. Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery for nearly the past 30 years. Her creative work in clay, glass and bronze is found in museums worldwide. It is exciting to see how her contemporary work continues to move Pueblo pottery forward with it innovations.
$ 2,800.00
This miniature seedpot by Glendora Fragua is fully polished red. It is fully incised and has a sunface on the top as the main design. The sunface and one of the stars on the side each has inset pieces of turquoise. The surrounding designs are highlighted with red or black clay slips. The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay with Glendora’s corn hallmark.
$ 275.00
This is an early seedpot by Grace Medicine Flower is from 1974. It is fully polished and etched on the sides with an avanyu (water serpent) medallion. Surrounding the avanyu are flute players. Note how the bodies of the flute players are more deeply etched than the other designs. The top has a cloud and rain pattern etched into the clay. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips,cracks restoration or repair.
$ 800.00
Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This bowl is one of her black-on-black pieces. It is painted with a stylized rain and mountain pattern. The jar is highly polished and fired to near gunmetal on the surface. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel”. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It has a slight lean to the shape, which might have happened in the firing if it got too so hot that it created the gunmetal surface. Isabel Pena was a granddaughter of Cipriana Pena and a daughter of Tonita Pena (ca 1847-1910) who was known for making large storage vessels. Isabel was the wife of Pasqual Martinez. She was also the mother of noted potters Teresita Martinez and Petronella Martinez. Her great-grandson, Elvis Torres continues to make pottery today.
For more information on the Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.
$ 175.00
Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This bowl is one of her black-on-black pieces. It is painted with a angular mountain pattern. The bowl is highly polished and boldly painted. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel”. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is slightly off center. Isabel Pena was a granddaughter of Cipriana Pena and a daughter of Tonita Pena (ca 1847-1910) who was known for making large storage vessels. Isabel was the wife of Pasqual Martinez. She was also the mother of noted potters Teresita Martinez and Petronella Martinez. Her great-grandson, Elvis Torres continues to make pottery today.
For more information on the Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.
$ 100.00
LuAnn Tafoya is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and known for her large, highly polished pottery. This is a recent and quite exceptional piece of her red pottery. The bowl is deeply carved with a design that varies as the bowl is turned. It has cloud, kiva step and rain designs. The patterns vary as the bowl is turned. The entire piece is fully polished red. The top and bottom sections are without design and the red polishing is stunning! The carved area has the same deep red coloration. It isn’t that the red always comes out this deep and perfect. LuAnn said she left it in the fired just another 10 seconds and that made all the difference! The background area is the traditional cream colored clay, which many potters no longer use. The shape is also a classic one for LuAnn with the round shoulder and the sloping rim. It is striking piece both in scale and appearance. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 5,800.00
This larger seedpot by Grace Medicine Flower is from 1976. It is unusual with the top part being polished tan. The tan is just where water is used to polish the surface of the pottery, while the red is a clay slip. The tan area is a etched with a water serpent. The sides of the bowl are polished red and there are six different butterflies etched into the surface of the clay. Typical of her pottery they are delicately etched into the surface of the bowl. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips,cracks restoration or repair.
$ 1,500.00
This is an intricate seedpot by Debra Trujillo (Duwyenie) and Harvey Chavarria. The seedpot has a pueblo dancer etched into the clay holding a medicine wheel. There is an inset piece of turquoise representing the belt buckle on the figure. This round flat shape of seepot is one that was stylized by Debra & Harvey for their work. The piece is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 325.00
This is a long neck water jar by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez. The jar is coil built, carved and stone polished. The design around the neck has 17 rounded feathers carved into the clay. Below the feathers is a band with the “walking bear paw” design. This is a pattern which her grandmother, Margaret Tafoya, utilized in her pottery. There are two avanyu (water serpents) encircling the piece. Note the shape of the head of the Avanyu on her pottery with the square mouth. That is the same shape as her father Lee used on his pottery and hers always remains a tribute to her art and pottery education. Below the avanyu is a walking bear paw design and then finally a larger rounded feather pattern. The jar is deeply carved and very highly polished. The complicated designs add to the dynamic appearance of the piece. Linda is a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya and the quality and creativity in her carving are readily apparent on this vessel! It is signed on the base.
$ 3,200.00
It is not often that we see Nathan Youngblood make a plainware piece, let alone one of the classic melon ribbed jars! This piece is stunning with 32 ribs carved into the clay. They each have a rounded edge which adds to the how the light is reflected on the piece. Nathan stone polishes each of his piece and is able to achieve a nearly “mirror-like” appearance to his work. This bowl may seem simple but it is always complicated to get each rib the same width as well as the amount of surface that has to be polished (think that each rib basically has two sides!). The polishing and the shine of this piece is simply stunning in person! The bowl is signed on the bottom with his name and deer tracks which represent his name in Tewa.
$ 9,500.00
Nathan Youngblood has created his own distinctive “polychrome” style of pottery with the use of the red, tan and buff surfaces on his pottery. This jar is a classic shape with a wide shoulder and a slightly turned out neck. The neck and base are both polished tan. The central design area is deeply carved and has a walking bear paw, cloud and mountain pattern. The walking bear paw design is one that is often seen on the pottery of Nathan’s grandmother, Margaret Tafoya. The jar is traditionally fired and has a striking contrast between the deep red and the tan polished areas. On his red and tan pieces, after they are fired, he uses screwdrivers to scrape the background area and the side of the carving. This can take almost as much time as the carving or polishing itself! Amazing the amount of time that goes into each vessel and yet how stunning they appear! The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay with his name and deer tracks, which represent his name in Tewa.
$ 6,500.00
Norvin Johnson learned to make pottery from Max Early. This jar is inspired by both contemporary and stylized flower patterns. The designs are painted in red clay on the white surface. Norvin has been working on more experimental shapes and this jar has an angular body and a square shape. The rim of the jar has triangular flower shapes which extend out from the opening. The various angles of the jar and the round flowing designs work in complement to one another. Norvin continues to create some unique and distinctive shapes for his pottery yet ties them back to the historic past.
$ 550.00
This is an intricately painted plate by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. This is the first plate we have had of his work. It is tightly painted with just the use of a yucca brush! The lines create a star pattern in the center. The ends of the star, at the rim of the plate, are very tightly painted with a fine-line plant pattern. It’s a visually striking combination of patterns. The piece is signed on the back.
$ 450.00
This is a visually striking larger jar by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The shape is one of the classic forms of Acoma pottery. The high shoulder and the slight rim create the “olla” form. The jar is fully painted with a fineline interlocking star pattern. Each star connects to the next. Note how they are all at an angle, which emphasizes the shape of the jar. The entire piece is coil built and painted with a yucca brush! The rim of the jar is painted black and has the traditional painted spirit line. There is also an indented base which is reminiscent of historic Acoma pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 1,800.00
This is one of the largest pieces we have had by Johnathan Naranjo. It captures his unique style of sgraffito and etching on his pottery. The jar is fully polished. Around the neck of the jar are a series of hummingbirds, etched into the clay in a realistic manner. Note how they are detailed but also have a more deeply etched band around them. Around the shoulder are larger flowers. It is this contrast of the delicate hummingbirds and the larger flowers which works perfectly on this jar. Note on the flowers how they are etched to be both red and tan, in a slight gradation of color, which gives them both depth and realism. In addition, they highlight the highly polished surface. The jar has a square neck and a round body. It is traditionally fired, which gives it the distinctive coloration. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Johnathan has won numerous awards for his pottery and Johnathan is definitely one of the young potters to watch!
$ 2,800.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This jar is made from while clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. Around the rim it is painted red and there are the ants painted above the shoulder. Below the shoulder it is painted black with the ants etched into the clay. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 115.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This bowl is made from while clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. Around the rim of the bowl are rain designs. The area behind the ants has a mottled appearance from the use of the black bee-weed. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 75.00
LuAnn Tafoya is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and known for her large, highly polished pottery. This water jar has the classic double shoulder. It is highly polished and has four bear paws impressed into the clay and polished over. The high second shoulder adds an edge where the light contrasts on the jar. The top of the rim is also fully polished. It is not often that LuAnn creates smaller pieces, let alone such a classic in form and also in the red clay. The polishing has a glassy appearance and works perfectly on this piece. Simple and traditional. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 1,800.00
WOW! This is an exceptional large jar by Daryl Whitegeese. Sometimes a photo just doesn’t do a piece justice and this is one of those times. To capture the design, you miss the deep black of the firing. What shows up is the amazing polish, which is like a glassy black surface. The jar is a classic water jar shape with the round shoulder and the slightly turned out rim. The jar is carved with a water, cloud, kiva step and rain design. It is a complex pattern which changes as the jar is turned. The variation in the angular and circular patterns work perfectly on this piece. The top and bottom sections are fully stone polished and the center is polished around the sharp carved edges. Note as well the edge of the rim of the jar and how he has polished into the rim! The size, shape and design all work perfectly on this piece. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Daryl has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and other events. He remains one of the exciting traditional potters working today!
$ 5,200.00
This is an intricate seedpot by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The seedpot is coil built with native clay and painted with native slips. The design around the body of the piece is an interlocking star. The top has an additional old style star motif. The contrast of the black and white works perfectly on this piece. There is also an indented base which is reminiscent of historic Acoma pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 550.00
Tim Edaakie and Bobby Silas work together on their pottery. Tim is Zuni while Bobby is Hopi and their pottery is created to envision historic pottery shapes and designs. This jar is a very classic shape with a wide shoulder, a sloping neck and a slightly turned out rim. The jar has heartline deer and flower medallions around the side. The neck has creatively painted rain birds. The fine lines are evenly painted and add to the overall connection to the historic style. The bottom of the jar has an indented base, which reminds one of the historic pottery and how it was worn on the head. All the various colors are from natural clay slips. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 450.00
It is not often that we come across pottery by Margaret Tafoya from the 1940’s! This jar is a traditional shape for her pottery and very deeply carved. The jar has an alternating Key Hole doorway design, inspired by the shape of the doorways on the cliff dwellings. This alternating style is both striking on the piece and also has a very modern appearance. The jar is fully polished and fired a deep black. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,700.00
This distinctive bowl by Margaret Tafoya is from the 1980’s. It is a classic shaped bowl with deeply carved cloud, rain and lightning designs. It is a continuous design around the surface of the entire piece. The bowl itself is highly polished and fired a deep red. The background is slipped with the traditional cream colored clay. Margaret’s work from the 1980’s is always distinctive as the pieces are typically smaller than in earlier years as she was in her 80’s! However, the carving is often more complicated and the polishing is always exceptional. This bowl is definitely one of her more complicated patterns. As well, it is great to see her work in red, which is always more difficult to fire. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. This is definitely an exceptional jar by this important Santa Clara potter.
$ 4,800.00
This jar is a classic water jar shape for Christina Naranjo and her pottery. The jar has a low, round shoulder and an elongated neck, with a rim which is slightly turned out. It is very highly polished and a striking shape. While she was famous for this particular form of her water jars, it is not often that we see them come back onto the market. This jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Christina Naranjo”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. As Christina was a sister of Margaret Tafoya and Camilio Tafoya, as well as the matriarch of the family of potters including Teresita Naranjo and Tammy Garcia, this is certainly a classic!
$ 1,800.00
Anita Martinez was a granddaughter of Maria Martinez and a daughter of Santana & Adam Martinez. This is a classic jar with the indented shoulder and a lid. There is an elegant balance of the shape of the jar with the shape of the lid. The entire piece is fully polished and fired a deep black, but there are very light gunmetal areas on the surface. The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Anita Martinez”.
$ 850.00
Juan Cruz is creating some beautifully painted polychrome pottery. He is a son of noted potter Lois Gutierrez. Lois made the jar and Juan, who is noted for his illustrations, painted the design using natural clay slips.. The jar is an elegant wide shoulder jar with a low shoulder and sloping neck neck. Juan wrote a description of the jar as follows,
“This piece depicts a gathering of women and children at a spring; collecting water with their clay vessels and gourd ladles. Between the two central figures of the piece is the stylized representation of the spring with accompanying plant and insect life sprouting forth from its abundance!”
The jar is truly polychrome (more than three colors of clay). Note the intricacy of the painted designs and especially the figures. They are each distinctive in stance or dress. Each piece of pottery is also different with variations in color, shape or design. The background designs of the dragonflies and how they connect to the sashes of the various women is a symbolically beautiful part of this story. The jar has been traditionally fired outdoor and overall is a striking coloration. It is signed on the indented bottom of the jar by both Juan and Lois. The description is written on the back of a hand painted graphic of a Pueblo woman and child. What a phenomenal addition to this piece and the painting helps to better understand how exceptional Juan is with his art.
$ 1,100.00
It is not often that Virgil creates such a traditional style of jar. This piece is coil built, polished and painted with wild spinach for the black. Virgil said that he was inspired by some historic Cochiti pottery recently to create this piece which has such classic imagery. The tall shape works perfectly for the designs. In addition to the focus on traditional imagery, there is also the complexity and intensity of design across the entire surface of the piece! The plant and cloud designs around the body of the jar are delicately painted. Above these are cloud patterns and plant designs. The circular band is a sun pattern, which Virgil says represents his addition to the iconography of Cochiti pottery. The neck is also fully designed with a plant pattern. There is a space on the rim of the neck where it is unpainted, which is the “heartline”, which Virgil always paints on his clay vessels. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 3,200.00
This Zuni carving is by Calvin Haloo. The badger is carved from Picasso Marble. It is highly detailed for the body of the piece. The badger has a realistic appearance. The arrowhead on the back is carved into the piece and there is an additional turquoise arrowhead on top.
$ 90.00
This Zuni carving is by Daphne Quam. It is a badger carved from labradorite. There is a lot of color in the stone! There is an arrowhead on the back.
$ 32.00
This Zuni carving by Tim Lementino. It is a group of five bears carved from pipestone. They each have turquoise eyes. There is a bundle holding them together from shell and turquoise.
$ 65.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This small bowl is made from red clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black). There is white clay for the eyes. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 25.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This small bowl is made from white clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black). There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 25.00
Mela Youngblood began making pottery in the late 1960’s and quickly achieved a distinctive style for her work. Each piece of her work very highly polished and when carved the edges are distinctly rounded. This bowl is a stylized version of the classic “gourd pot”. This style usually has indented areas on the surface of the vessel. On this piece Mela has created indentions on the side of the bowl leaving the top and bottom a fully polished surface. The bowl was made in 1974 and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is beautifully polished and unique in its form.
$ 1,500.00
This is a collaborative jar by Jennifer Moquino and Russell Sanchez. Russell made the bowl and polished the surface. After the firing he two-toned the medallions and inset the hei-shi beads. Jennifer etched each of the medallions with a combination of modern and pre-historic fish! Each medallion is highly detailed. The lid is a sculptural fish from clay leaping out of the water. The jar is signed by both Russell and Jennifer. It is an exceptional example of their collaborative pottery.
$ 3,400.00
This Zuni carving by Lena Boone. She is one of the most famous of the traditional Zuni fetish carvers. This badger is carved from turquoise and has a medicine bundle on it back.
$ 40.00
This Zuni carving by Abby Quam. She is known for her stylized bears with a heartline. This bear has a turquoise heartline and it is carved from chrysacolla, which is similar to turquoise. The bear is beautifully finished.
$ 32.00
Calvin Analla learned to make pottery from his sister, Yvonne Lucas and her husband, Steve Lucas. This unique bowl is made from mixing two different types of clay together. That creates the mottled appearance of the clay. The bowl is a classic shape and it is painted with cloud and rain designs. Note the very fine lines of the rain pattern! The designs are painted on with bee-weed (a plant). The bowl is amazingly thin walled, which is typical of Calvin’s pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 300.00
This jar by Johnathan Naranjo captures his unique style of sgraffito and etching on his pottery. The jar is fully polished and has three realistic bees etched around the neck. They are detailed and surrounded by a more lightly etched wind design. Below the shoulder the jar is etched with a series of flowers. The entire piece has been traditionally fired to create a the coloration. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Johnathan has won numerous awards for his pottery and Johnathan is definitely one of the young potters to watch!
$ 300.00
This Zuni carving by Delvin Leekay is carved from mottled brown travertine. It is one of the most traditionally used stones at Zuni. The eyes are inset with turquoise. There is an arrowhead on the back.
$ 32.00
This Zuni carving by Michael Mahooty is carved from spiderweb turquoise. It is a striking coloration to the stone. There is an arrowhead and medicine bundle on the back.
$ 55.00
This Zuni carving by Bernard Laiwakete is carved from Orthocera fossil. It has a heartline on one side and the other side it is possible to see the fossils!
$ 80.00
This Zuni carving by Rodney Laiwakete is carved from agate. There is a Big Horn Sheep which has an inlaid turquoise and moher -of -pearl heartline. The bird on the back is also carved from agate. It is attached as a medicine bundle.
$ 55.00
This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from glass. This fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back. The glass is red with gold flecks on one side.
$ 40.00
This Zuni carving by Derrick Kaamasee is carved from turquoise. There are two eagles and a small baby eagle on the branch by their feet. The piece is very intricately carved with much detail to the wings. The eyes are inlaid with jet.
$ 100.00
This Zuni carving by Cheryl Beyuka has two wolves carved from pipestone. They are connected and there is a dragonfly on top carved from black marble and wings carved from apple coral and mother of pearl. It is symbolic as wolves mate for life and the dragonfly is symbolic of prayers.
$ 80.00
This Zuni carving by Herbert Pincion is carved from serpentine. It has a horse and foal intricately carved in stone.
$ 40.00
Lois Gutierrez is one of the few potters who continues to create traditional polychrome (more than 3 colors of clay) pottery at Santa Clara pueblo. This is a traditional style water jar with a low shoulder and a kiva step rim. On one side there is a water serpent and a turtle painted as the design. On the opposite side there are two turtles, a rainbow and a cloud pattern. Painted on the front of the kiva step pattern is also a cloud design. Below the shoulder is a rain and cloud pattern. It is complex and striking design on the jar! The jar has been traditionally fired outdoor and overall is a striking coloration. It is signed on the indented bottom of the jar. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,200.00
Teresita Naranjo was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and know for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is her classic style with a very deeply carved avanyu circling the piece. Teresita was considered the first of the Santa Clara potters to carve outside of a linear band. This can be seen here with the design coming down from the rim and up from the base. The carving is very deep and complicated and the background has the traditional cream colored clay slip. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Teresita Naranjo”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are a couple of light rubs which can be seen on the jar and have priced it accordingly.
$ 1,200.00
Polly Rose Folwell is known for use of classic designs on her traditional inspired Santa Clara pottery. This bowl is coil built and fired brown. The designs are bird wing patterns inspired from various pueblos. The pattern on the top of the bowl has both painted and linear patterns, reminiscent of San Ildefonso pottery. The central area has Hopi style bird wings. The base has Acoma style bird wing patterns. It is interesting how she has brought all these together in one piece and contrasts the various styles. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. .
$ 600.00
Les Namingha is known for the innovative shapes and designs on his pottery. He pulls from both his Hopi-Tewa and Zuni ancestry to create designs. This jar is one of his classic shape with the round body and the elongated neck. The jar has Hopi-Tewa style birds painted around the neck. They are each detailed with various traditional designs from feathers to rain and cloud motifs. While they background is a peach color with blue dots, the birds are traditional clay colors of black, red and white. The area around the side of the jar has a white migration pattern painted note the very subtle black bands which encircle the jar. The bottom is painted with a sun pattern. The intricacy of the jar is striking and an exceptional balance of traditional and contemporary imagery. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 2,400.00
Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery. The use of the new black micaceous clay on his pottery is both exciting and visually stunning! Russell said that he was inspired by the use of the micaceous clay on utilitarian vessels and how he could use it to better match his highly polished surfaces. The result is a black stone polished micaceous surface which has a high shine and a color that somehow ranges from gray to black to almost a blue, depending on the light! It is quite exceptional! In addition, the deep red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s. It is the perfect complement to the black mica! This jar has a double shoulder, which has been carved into the clay. It is polished red, as is the lower band below the central design and even the inside of the neck of the jar!! The avanyu (water serpent) has been etched into the surface of clay, revealing the tan coloration. There is an inset piece of Lone Mountain turquoise for the eye along with black jet inlay around each medallion was made by the Calabasa family of Kewa Pueblo. The balance of color, shape and design work perfectly on this jar. It is signed on the bottom in the clay and yes, it is stunning!
Click here to read: Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past
$ 6,800.00
Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery. Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched. This bear is one of his classic shapes. The bear is fully polished with a deep red clay slip for the two medallions. Russell has brought back the deep red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s. It is an extraordinary coloration! One medallion has a cougar and the other an elk. However, it the overall color of the piece, which is polished with a black mica clay, which is extraordinary. Russell said that he was inspired by the use of the micaceous clay on utilitarian vessels and how he could use it to better match his highly polished surfaces. The result is a black stone polished micaceous surface which has a high shine and a color that somehow ranges from gray to black to almost a blue, depending on the light! It is quite exceptional! The bear also has a heartline, which is symbolic of the bears and their symbolism for good luck. The black jet inlay around each medallion was made by the Calabasa family of Santo Domingo. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Stunning!
Click here to read: Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past
$ 5,800.00
During the 1950’s Maria Martinez made and polished pottery and signed using her Tewa name, “Maria Poveka”. Poveka means “Water Lilly”. This is one of her classic open bowls, which are polished on both the inside and outside. Interestingly, today, few potters will attempt to fully polish the inside and outside of a piece, as it adds the possibility of it cracking. The bowl is very highly polished and there are small areas of gunmetal and coloration in the black from the heat of the firing. The bowl is signed in the clay on the bottom, “Maria Pove’ka”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 2,000.00
This is a classic jar by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the jar while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). The jar is highly polished and has a feather pattern around the shoulder. It is the firing which has given it the striking surface. It has a black to gunmetal firing. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 467“. The signature indicates that it was made around in April, 1967. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 2,800.00
Ethel Vigil is a daughter of noted potter Mida Tafoya. She has been making pottery since 1975. This seedpot is deeply carved with a feather pattern around the top and a water serpent (avanyu) around the body of the piece. Note the depth of the carving! The bowl is highly polished and fired red. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 225.00
This is one of Ray Tafoya’s few wedding vase miniatures. The entire piece is fully polished and fired red. The design is a hummingbird in a medallion on each side of the piece. There are feather designs on the side and additional highlights of yellow clay. The wedding vase is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 725.00
Jody Folwell is known for her creative pottery shapes and designs. This bowl is one of her few miniatures. The jar is highly polished and etched with a feather pattern around the body of the piece. There are both larger and smaller feathers along with the Folwell family “x”. The various colors on the surface are from the firing. It is signed on the bottom, “Jody”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 300.00
Forrest Naranjo’s pottery is coil built, stone polished and traditionally fired brown and then etched with designs. This miniature was made by both Forrest and his wife Karen. It is asymmetrical in shape and has Mimbres style Flute players etched into the clay. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 150.00
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is deeply carved with a classic kiva step pattern. The design over the steps is a rainbow. Note how deeply she carves into the clay relative to the size of the bowl! After it is carved and polished she then uses clay to outline the design. Visually, this makes the imagery more dramatic. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 200.00 $ 150.00
This is a classic style Hopi-Tewa jar by Mark Tahbo. The jar has a wide, round body, a high shoulder, and a slight neck. The neck has been slipped red, but it fired so deeply it is almost black in coloration. The body of the piece has two bird, which are painted horizontally. The style of the birds is inspired by the pottery of Nampeyo of Hano, who revived this style of bird. The birds are painted with two different colors of red clay slip. The black is bee-weed (a plant). The jar is traditionally fired to create the various colorations from the heat of the fire. It is signed on the bottom with a pipe for his “Tobacco Clan”.
$ 550.00
This bowl by Robert Naranjo is from 1995. He began making pottery in 1982 and learned from his mother Mollie Naranjo and his aunt, Julie Martinez. It is highly polished and two-toned black and sienna with the rim being a lighter color. The bowl is etched with a realistic style bear, buffalo and deer. Separating them are lightly etched plants and petroglyphs. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 175.00
Reycita Naranjo was a daughter of noted potter Pablita Chavarria. This piece is one of her smaller carved jars. The jar has a cloud pattern carved at the base of the neck and a water serpent around the body of the piece. The carving on Reycita’s pottery is more shallow with crisp lines. Her polishing creates an even tonality to the surface. The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 150.00
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is deeply carved with a rain and lightning design. Note how deeply she carves into the clay relative to the size of the bowl! After it is carved and polished she then uses clay to outline the design. Visually, this makes the imagery more dramatic. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 200.00 $ 150.00
Clarissa Tafoya learned to make pottery from her mother Rose Tafoya and her grandmother, Lucaria Tafoya. She is married to Timothy Roller, a son of Toni Roller. This jar is carved with a water serpent encircling the shoulder of the piece. Below the avanyu there are water designs. The jar is deeply carved and fired a deep black. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 150.00 $ 100.00
Bernice Naranjo is known for her innovative incised pottery. This seedpot is fully polished and fired brown. She has etched a series of lizards on the surface of the piece. Some are placed sitting on the red polished clay and others on fine-line etched sections reminiscent of the sand or pottery shards. The piece is signed on the bottom.
$ 200.00 $ 155.00
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This jar is carved with a water serpent around the body of the piece. In this style, Carol’s work is distinguishable as she usually carves into the negative space for her designs. Note as well how deeply they are carved and the clay outline of the carved areas. The high polished creates a visual contrast to the matte of the carved and painted areas. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 250.00 $ 175.00
This bowl by Christine Nieto (1965-2008) is highly polished and traditionally fired. The bowl has a series of four bear paws etched into the surface of the clay. Each bear paw has a kiva step pattern in the center. Christine was known for her brown fired pottery and delicately etched designs. The bowl is signed on the bottom.
$ 110.00
Rose Gutierrez is a daughter of noted potter Helen Gutierrez and a sister of Geraldine Gutierrez and Kathy Gutierrez. This is a simple bowl with a flower motif around the rim painted with cream colored clay. The side of bowl has a painted spider as well as one on the inside. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 75.00 $ 55.00
Geraldine Gutierrez is a daughter of noted potter Helen Gutierrez. Geraldine is known for her use of traditional pottery designs. This bowl is polished red and has a painted avanyu (water serpent), as the design. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 150.00 $ 100.00
This is a wide storage jar shaped piece by Geri Naranjo. She is known for her miniature pottery and intricate designs. Here the entire piece is fully polished and the rim is two-toned sienna. The shoulder of the jar has a an etched avanyu, then feather pattern. The remainder is a a very highly polished black. There are two small storm patterns near the base. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Geri Naranjo”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 400.00
Dolly Naranjo is a daughter of Rose Naranjo and the mother of Jody and Elijah Naranjo. This canteen is fully polished and has been fired brown. There is a bird and flowers etched into the front of the piece. There is a leather strap for the handles. It is signed “Dolly” on the bottom in the clay.
$ 125.00 $ 100.00
This is one of the largest seedpots we have had by Ray Tafoya. The entire piece is fully polished and fired black. The design is etched into the clay with butterflies and flowers as the design on top. The design below the shoulder is a series of flowers. Note how the hole for the opening is off-center. All the various colors are added after the designs are etched into the clay. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay with Ray’s hallmark. This piece was originally purchased in 1987 and at that time he had just begun making some larger pieces. The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Ray is the father of noted potter Jennifer Moquino and you can see how she continues to use his stylistic designs in her pottery. Check out the last photo for scale!
$ 975.00
During the 1950’s Margaret Tafoya often made more “tourist” items like these candlesticks. She would travel with her family to Colorado and the Garden of the Gods for the summer. Her husband, Alcario, and her children would perform and she would make pottery. These candlesticks are in the shape of a pair of mocassins. They are twisted, which is always more difficult for polishing and firing. They are fully stone polished and one of the pair is signed. They are in very good condition with no chips, cracks. restoration or repair. It is not often that we come across candlesticks in such great condition. It is great to see that many of Margaret’s descendants continue on in the tradition of making this form as a recognition of her tenacity and creativity as an artist.
$ 2,200.00
This large jar is by Margaret Tafoya and her mother, SaraFina Tafoya, is from the 1930’s. The jar is large and the handles are distinctive to SaraFina with the fingers. These are her classic style of handles, which were originally inspired by seeing them in books on Greek and Roman pottery. The handles also extend from the rim to the shoulder, which is how SaraFina always made her handles. The jar itself is a shape that both Margaret and SaraFina made during their careers. What makes the jar unusual is the painted birds on both sides. This black-on-black style of painted bird may well have been painted by Manuel Tafoya, who was Margaret’s brother. He painted a lot of pottery for his mother and sister and the intricate detail in the design is typical of his painting. What makes the birds even more unique is their style. They are certainly inspired by the Hopi-Tewa birds in the style of Nampeyo of Hano. Of course, Nampeyo was famous by the early 1900’s and her work influenced numerous other potters at both Santa Clara and San Ildefonso. In such a combination of artistry, there is the final touch, which is Margaret’s signature on the bottom of the jar! Overall, the jar is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Obviously, the surface is rough which maybe from it being lower fired so that it scratched easily, or just handling over the years. However, the overall design and form are well intact. Simply an amazing piece of history!
$ 12,000.00
This is one of the few polychrome pieces Margaret Tafoya. The wedding vase is from the 1920’s and it is on p. 50 in the Born of Fire book. The entire piece is fully polished red and the avanyu is painted with various clay slips. There are subtle variations of the gray clay slip on the body. Note as well that the water serpents (avanyu) are different on each side. The polychrome work by Margaret is some of the rarest of her work as much of it was made in the 1920’s and 1930’s and it has not survived well. It was quickly supplanted by the polished and carved blackware, which was more popular at the time. The wedding vase is signed, “Margaret” on the bottom. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 15,000.00
This is a striking fully polished plate by Margaret Tafoya. It is featured in the book, Born of Fire, on page 77. The plate is impressed with four bear paws in the clay. It has then been fully polished and fired a dark black. While her earlier plates from the 1950’s were mostly painted, in the 1960’s she varied the design to include the bear paws. There is a depth to the plate (3″) which almost makes it as much a large open bowl as a plate. The size of this plate is unusual for any potter as any plate over twelve inches is often considered a “major piece”. The bear paw design tells the story of how a bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought. The plate is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and the highly polished surface just seems to glow with the light. It is signed on the back in the clay.
$ 8,800.00
This is a large storage jar shaped vessel by Margaret Tafoya. It is featured on page 79 of the book, Born of Fire. It is one of Margaret’s classic shapes with the high shoulder and slight neck. However, what makes this very unusual besides the size, is the surface, which is designed with a series of melon swirls. There are 16 ribs carved into the clay and the entire piece is fully polished. The plainware vessels are always among the most difficult to polish, as they must be fully polished at one time or the slip will dry. Margaret did not make many of these melon rib jars at this size. One of the only other ones is in the permanent collection of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, AZ. The jar is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are rubs on the surface and a few light scratches which are not unexpected. However, the overall strength of the polishing remains. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 18,000.00
This is a smaller scale version of Margaret Tafoya’s famous storage jars. The jar is from the 1980’s. Her storage jar form always has a high, round shoulder and impressed bear paws. Margaret always said that making them very round was more difficult than making them narrower, like her mother SaraFina Tafoya. This jar is very round and has a slight edge as it slopes up to the neck, which creates a striking play of light. The entire piece is the fully polished after the bear paws are impressed. The bear paw design tells the story of how a bear led the Pueblo people to water during a drought. Both the storage jar and the bear paw have become iconic to the work of Margaret Tafoya. This jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom. The jar has a second place ribbon from the 1983 Santa Fe Indian Market. The ribbon is signed by Anita Martinez and G. Andrews. The ribbon is definitely a nice addition to the provenance of her work!
$ 12,500.00
This carved bowl was made and carved by Margaret Tafoya. The bowl is featured in the book, “Born of Fire”, on p. 55. It is from the 1930’s and it has a sloping edge the piece and a very deeply carved avanyu. The avanyu is very angular in style, which is typical of Margaret’s carving. The bowl is fully polished and it is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is certainly an classic of her early pottery.
$ 4,500.00
This red bowl by Margaret Tafoya is fully polished on the inside and outside. The bowl is fired red and the cloud design around the rim is also painted in a matte red clay. The design is outlined with a white clay. This is a style which Margaret began in the 1940’s and continued through the 1960’s. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There is one small ding under one of the cloud patterns. Note as well the color variation as the bowl is turned. This is the result of the traditional firing.
$ 3,200.00
It is not often that we come across a fully polished kiva bowl by Margaret Tafoya. This bowl is fully polished on the inside and outside. The bowl has the “kiva” three step form on the sides. The holes in the kiva step areas were traditionally included so that eagle feathers could be placed in them. Margaret made a few of these throughout her career and this one has a very high polished surface. The bowl is signed on the bottom int he clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are two slip cracks, one on each side of one of the raised kiva areas. It is a difficult shape to make and the unique form often puts undue pressure on the slip when it is firing resulting in the slip cracks.
$ 1,500.00
This is a distinctive shape jar by Margaret Tafoya. The jar is featured in the book Born of Fire on p. 80. It is from the 1960’s and it is fully polished. The jar is fully polished and has handles as part of the form. Margaret noted that when she first tried handles, they were inspired by Greek and Roman pottery she had seen in a book. Typical of her handles, they extend from the neck to the shoulder. This is different than the handles of her mother, SaraFina Tafoya. The high polished and unique form work perfectly on this piece. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 7,500.00
This is one of the few polychrome pieces Margaret Tafoya. The plate is from the 1920’s and it is fully polished on the back and the front is matte with the various clay slips creating the coloration. The plate is featured on p. 45 in the book Born of Fire. Margaret said that this was one of only 12 plates that she made which were polychrome! The design is delicately painted and note the variations in color of the gray and the subtle designs in the body of the avanyu. It is quite exceptional. Margaret told the story of how she actually saw a water serpent when she was a girl and was told that seeing one predicted a long life. The plate is signed on the back. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There is one small ding on the upper edge, which is certainly not unexpected.
Harrison Jim learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law Joy “Frogwoman” Navasie. He often collaborated with Marianne Navasie on his pottery. His work combines carved designs with traditional Hopi imagery. This jar is coil built and half of it is carved with a very intricate Morning Singer Katsina. The Katsina is depicted holding an evergreen tree and climbing out of the kiva. What makes Harrison’s work so exceptional is the carving in relief of the imagery. It is as if it has been carved in wood and placed on the clay vessel! As the piece is turned, it slipped white in the style of his mother-in-law, Joy Navasie. The design on the back is a shawl pattern, which is also replicated on the sides of the katsina. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 575.00
Tina Garcia was well known for her focus on traditional shape and plainware Santa Clara pottery. This jar is one of her early classic piece. It is a beautiful shape with a wide shoulder and slightly turned out neck. The shoulder has a sharp edge and then drops down as it rises up to the neck. This is a technically difficult technique to master and it is one at which Tina was among the best! This jar is one of the few we have seen which is fired brown. The color and the way the light hits the jar is beautiful! It is signed on the bottom and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 575.00
It is not often that we come across pottery by Margaret Tafoya from the 1940’s! This bowl is coil built, carved, stone polished and traditionally fired black. The design is very fluid around the body of the piece. I asked Nathan Youngblood (her grandson) the meaning of the design and he said it was, “Kiva steps floating in a cloud design”. There is something very beautiful about that idea! The carving is very even and the rim of the bowl is also fully polished. This fluid design is striking on the piece giving it both an ancient and very modern appearance. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,700.00
This large seedpot by Camilio Tafoya is from 1973. It is fully polished and like much of Camilio’s pottery, it tells a story. Here, the boy is hunting a rabbit on one side with a bow and arrow. He is shown on the other side returning to the village with the rabbit. Separating the two large medallions are plant designs. Camilio began creating sgraffito pottery with his daughter, Grace Medicine Flower in 1970-1 and quickly developed his own style of pottery. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. The seedpot is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 875.00
Stunning! This is an exceptional jar by Nancy Youngblood. The shape is a classic water jar with a rainbow ridge shoulder. The shape is inspired by the work of her grandmother, Margaret Tafoya, and her great-grandmother, SaraFina Tafoya. The jar has 16 ribs swirling around the neck and 16 ribs swirling towards the base! The rim is perfectly carved and polished with the inside of the rim also rounded out! It is always technically difficult to create a rim of such complexity and not have it break during the polishing! As well, note the depth of the carving on this piece. The entire bowl is fully polished which takes an extraordinary amount of time. Consider that each rib has two “sides”to be polished and the surface area of the piece is about double its size! Nancy has won numerous awards for her melon bowls and this is undoubtedly a classic of her style!
This seedpot is by Debra Trujillo (Duwyenie) and Harvey Chavarria. It is dated “8-16-83”, which means it was made for Santa Fe Indian Market in 1983. The piece is a very round seedpot with a incised hummingbird and flowers as the design. The piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 225.00
This tile by Glendora Fragua is fully polished tan. It is fully polished and designed. In the center there is a stalk of corn and a butterfly. On the sides are flowers and more butterflies. Around the edge are painted multi-color dots. The tile is framed in a black fame with green matte.
$ 250.00
Tammy Garcia is known for her contemporary designs and use of traditional clay. This jar incorporates her evolving style of carving her pieces in various layers. The open bowl has a carved Thunderbird in the center. Much in the style of historic jewelry, there are etched designs on the wings, as if they were stamped in silver. The stone in the center is a piece of Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. The interior of the bowl is rounded out and the outside is rag polished at an angle. While a smaller piece, it capture the essence of Tammy’s creativity and style. Tammy has won numerous awards for her pottery for nearly the past 30 years. Her creative work in clay, glass and bronze is found in museums worldwide. It is exciting to see how her contemporary work continues to move Pueblo pottery forward with it innovations.
$ 2,800.00
This miniature seedpot by Glendora Fragua is fully polished red. It is fully incised and has a sunface on the top as the main design. The sunface and one of the stars on the side each has inset pieces of turquoise. The surrounding designs are highlighted with red or black clay slips. The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay with Glendora’s corn hallmark.
$ 275.00
This is an early seedpot by Grace Medicine Flower is from 1974. It is fully polished and etched on the sides with an avanyu (water serpent) medallion. Surrounding the avanyu are flute players. Note how the bodies of the flute players are more deeply etched than the other designs. The top has a cloud and rain pattern etched into the clay. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips,cracks restoration or repair.
$ 800.00
Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This bowl is one of her black-on-black pieces. It is painted with a stylized rain and mountain pattern. The jar is highly polished and fired to near gunmetal on the surface. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel”. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It has a slight lean to the shape, which might have happened in the firing if it got too so hot that it created the gunmetal surface. Isabel Pena was a granddaughter of Cipriana Pena and a daughter of Tonita Pena (ca 1847-1910) who was known for making large storage vessels. Isabel was the wife of Pasqual Martinez. She was also the mother of noted potters Teresita Martinez and Petronella Martinez. Her great-grandson, Elvis Torres continues to make pottery today.
For more information on the Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.
$ 175.00
Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This bowl is one of her black-on-black pieces. It is painted with a angular mountain pattern. The bowl is highly polished and boldly painted. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel”. It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is slightly off center. Isabel Pena was a granddaughter of Cipriana Pena and a daughter of Tonita Pena (ca 1847-1910) who was known for making large storage vessels. Isabel was the wife of Pasqual Martinez. She was also the mother of noted potters Teresita Martinez and Petronella Martinez. Her great-grandson, Elvis Torres continues to make pottery today.
For more information on the Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.
$ 100.00
LuAnn Tafoya is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and known for her large, highly polished pottery. This is a recent and quite exceptional piece of her red pottery. The bowl is deeply carved with a design that varies as the bowl is turned. It has cloud, kiva step and rain designs. The patterns vary as the bowl is turned. The entire piece is fully polished red. The top and bottom sections are without design and the red polishing is stunning! The carved area has the same deep red coloration. It isn’t that the red always comes out this deep and perfect. LuAnn said she left it in the fired just another 10 seconds and that made all the difference! The background area is the traditional cream colored clay, which many potters no longer use. The shape is also a classic one for LuAnn with the round shoulder and the sloping rim. It is striking piece both in scale and appearance. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 5,800.00
This larger seedpot by Grace Medicine Flower is from 1976. It is unusual with the top part being polished tan. The tan is just where water is used to polish the surface of the pottery, while the red is a clay slip. The tan area is a etched with a water serpent. The sides of the bowl are polished red and there are six different butterflies etched into the surface of the clay. Typical of her pottery they are delicately etched into the surface of the bowl. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips,cracks restoration or repair.
$ 1,500.00
This is an intricate seedpot by Debra Trujillo (Duwyenie) and Harvey Chavarria. The seedpot has a pueblo dancer etched into the clay holding a medicine wheel. There is an inset piece of turquoise representing the belt buckle on the figure. This round flat shape of seepot is one that was stylized by Debra & Harvey for their work. The piece is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 325.00
This is a long neck water jar by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez. The jar is coil built, carved and stone polished. The design around the neck has 17 rounded feathers carved into the clay. Below the feathers is a band with the “walking bear paw” design. This is a pattern which her grandmother, Margaret Tafoya, utilized in her pottery. There are two avanyu (water serpents) encircling the piece. Note the shape of the head of the Avanyu on her pottery with the square mouth. That is the same shape as her father Lee used on his pottery and hers always remains a tribute to her art and pottery education. Below the avanyu is a walking bear paw design and then finally a larger rounded feather pattern. The jar is deeply carved and very highly polished. The complicated designs add to the dynamic appearance of the piece. Linda is a granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya and the quality and creativity in her carving are readily apparent on this vessel! It is signed on the base.
$ 3,200.00
It is not often that we see Nathan Youngblood make a plainware piece, let alone one of the classic melon ribbed jars! This piece is stunning with 32 ribs carved into the clay. They each have a rounded edge which adds to the how the light is reflected on the piece. Nathan stone polishes each of his piece and is able to achieve a nearly “mirror-like” appearance to his work. This bowl may seem simple but it is always complicated to get each rib the same width as well as the amount of surface that has to be polished (think that each rib basically has two sides!). The polishing and the shine of this piece is simply stunning in person! The bowl is signed on the bottom with his name and deer tracks which represent his name in Tewa.
$ 9,500.00
Nathan Youngblood has created his own distinctive “polychrome” style of pottery with the use of the red, tan and buff surfaces on his pottery. This jar is a classic shape with a wide shoulder and a slightly turned out neck. The neck and base are both polished tan. The central design area is deeply carved and has a walking bear paw, cloud and mountain pattern. The walking bear paw design is one that is often seen on the pottery of Nathan’s grandmother, Margaret Tafoya. The jar is traditionally fired and has a striking contrast between the deep red and the tan polished areas. On his red and tan pieces, after they are fired, he uses screwdrivers to scrape the background area and the side of the carving. This can take almost as much time as the carving or polishing itself! Amazing the amount of time that goes into each vessel and yet how stunning they appear! The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay with his name and deer tracks, which represent his name in Tewa.
$ 6,500.00
Norvin Johnson learned to make pottery from Max Early. This jar is inspired by both contemporary and stylized flower patterns. The designs are painted in red clay on the white surface. Norvin has been working on more experimental shapes and this jar has an angular body and a square shape. The rim of the jar has triangular flower shapes which extend out from the opening. The various angles of the jar and the round flowing designs work in complement to one another. Norvin continues to create some unique and distinctive shapes for his pottery yet ties them back to the historic past.
$ 550.00
This is an intricately painted plate by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. This is the first plate we have had of his work. It is tightly painted with just the use of a yucca brush! The lines create a star pattern in the center. The ends of the star, at the rim of the plate, are very tightly painted with a fine-line plant pattern. It’s a visually striking combination of patterns. The piece is signed on the back.
$ 450.00
This is a visually striking larger jar by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The shape is one of the classic forms of Acoma pottery. The high shoulder and the slight rim create the “olla” form. The jar is fully painted with a fineline interlocking star pattern. Each star connects to the next. Note how they are all at an angle, which emphasizes the shape of the jar. The entire piece is coil built and painted with a yucca brush! The rim of the jar is painted black and has the traditional painted spirit line. There is also an indented base which is reminiscent of historic Acoma pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 1,800.00
This is one of the largest pieces we have had by Johnathan Naranjo. It captures his unique style of sgraffito and etching on his pottery. The jar is fully polished. Around the neck of the jar are a series of hummingbirds, etched into the clay in a realistic manner. Note how they are detailed but also have a more deeply etched band around them. Around the shoulder are larger flowers. It is this contrast of the delicate hummingbirds and the larger flowers which works perfectly on this jar. Note on the flowers how they are etched to be both red and tan, in a slight gradation of color, which gives them both depth and realism. In addition, they highlight the highly polished surface. The jar has a square neck and a round body. It is traditionally fired, which gives it the distinctive coloration. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Johnathan has won numerous awards for his pottery and Johnathan is definitely one of the young potters to watch!
$ 2,800.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This jar is made from while clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. Around the rim it is painted red and there are the ants painted above the shoulder. Below the shoulder it is painted black with the ants etched into the clay. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 115.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This bowl is made from while clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. Around the rim of the bowl are rain designs. The area behind the ants has a mottled appearance from the use of the black bee-weed. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 75.00
LuAnn Tafoya is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and known for her large, highly polished pottery. This water jar has the classic double shoulder. It is highly polished and has four bear paws impressed into the clay and polished over. The high second shoulder adds an edge where the light contrasts on the jar. The top of the rim is also fully polished. It is not often that LuAnn creates smaller pieces, let alone such a classic in form and also in the red clay. The polishing has a glassy appearance and works perfectly on this piece. Simple and traditional. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 1,800.00
WOW! This is an exceptional large jar by Daryl Whitegeese. Sometimes a photo just doesn’t do a piece justice and this is one of those times. To capture the design, you miss the deep black of the firing. What shows up is the amazing polish, which is like a glassy black surface. The jar is a classic water jar shape with the round shoulder and the slightly turned out rim. The jar is carved with a water, cloud, kiva step and rain design. It is a complex pattern which changes as the jar is turned. The variation in the angular and circular patterns work perfectly on this piece. The top and bottom sections are fully stone polished and the center is polished around the sharp carved edges. Note as well the edge of the rim of the jar and how he has polished into the rim! The size, shape and design all work perfectly on this piece. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Daryl has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and other events. He remains one of the exciting traditional potters working today!
$ 5,200.00
This is an intricate seedpot by Franklin Peters. He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The seedpot is coil built with native clay and painted with native slips. The design around the body of the piece is an interlocking star. The top has an additional old style star motif. The contrast of the black and white works perfectly on this piece. There is also an indented base which is reminiscent of historic Acoma pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 550.00
Tim Edaakie and Bobby Silas work together on their pottery. Tim is Zuni while Bobby is Hopi and their pottery is created to envision historic pottery shapes and designs. This jar is a very classic shape with a wide shoulder, a sloping neck and a slightly turned out rim. The jar has heartline deer and flower medallions around the side. The neck has creatively painted rain birds. The fine lines are evenly painted and add to the overall connection to the historic style. The bottom of the jar has an indented base, which reminds one of the historic pottery and how it was worn on the head. All the various colors are from natural clay slips. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 450.00
It is not often that we come across pottery by Margaret Tafoya from the 1940’s! This jar is a traditional shape for her pottery and very deeply carved. The jar has an alternating Key Hole doorway design, inspired by the shape of the doorways on the cliff dwellings. This alternating style is both striking on the piece and also has a very modern appearance. The jar is fully polished and fired a deep black. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,700.00
This distinctive bowl by Margaret Tafoya is from the 1980’s. It is a classic shaped bowl with deeply carved cloud, rain and lightning designs. It is a continuous design around the surface of the entire piece. The bowl itself is highly polished and fired a deep red. The background is slipped with the traditional cream colored clay. Margaret’s work from the 1980’s is always distinctive as the pieces are typically smaller than in earlier years as she was in her 80’s! However, the carving is often more complicated and the polishing is always exceptional. This bowl is definitely one of her more complicated patterns. As well, it is great to see her work in red, which is always more difficult to fire. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. This is definitely an exceptional jar by this important Santa Clara potter.
$ 4,800.00
This jar is a classic water jar shape for Christina Naranjo and her pottery. The jar has a low, round shoulder and an elongated neck, with a rim which is slightly turned out. It is very highly polished and a striking shape. While she was famous for this particular form of her water jars, it is not often that we see them come back onto the market. This jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Christina Naranjo”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. As Christina was a sister of Margaret Tafoya and Camilio Tafoya, as well as the matriarch of the family of potters including Teresita Naranjo and Tammy Garcia, this is certainly a classic!
$ 1,800.00
Anita Martinez was a granddaughter of Maria Martinez and a daughter of Santana & Adam Martinez. This is a classic jar with the indented shoulder and a lid. There is an elegant balance of the shape of the jar with the shape of the lid. The entire piece is fully polished and fired a deep black, but there are very light gunmetal areas on the surface. The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Anita Martinez”.
$ 850.00
Juan Cruz is creating some beautifully painted polychrome pottery. He is a son of noted potter Lois Gutierrez. Lois made the jar and Juan, who is noted for his illustrations, painted the design using natural clay slips.. The jar is an elegant wide shoulder jar with a low shoulder and sloping neck neck. Juan wrote a description of the jar as follows,
“This piece depicts a gathering of women and children at a spring; collecting water with their clay vessels and gourd ladles. Between the two central figures of the piece is the stylized representation of the spring with accompanying plant and insect life sprouting forth from its abundance!”
The jar is truly polychrome (more than three colors of clay). Note the intricacy of the painted designs and especially the figures. They are each distinctive in stance or dress. Each piece of pottery is also different with variations in color, shape or design. The background designs of the dragonflies and how they connect to the sashes of the various women is a symbolically beautiful part of this story. The jar has been traditionally fired outdoor and overall is a striking coloration. It is signed on the indented bottom of the jar by both Juan and Lois. The description is written on the back of a hand painted graphic of a Pueblo woman and child. What a phenomenal addition to this piece and the painting helps to better understand how exceptional Juan is with his art.
$ 1,100.00
It is not often that Virgil creates such a traditional style of jar. This piece is coil built, polished and painted with wild spinach for the black. Virgil said that he was inspired by some historic Cochiti pottery recently to create this piece which has such classic imagery. The tall shape works perfectly for the designs. In addition to the focus on traditional imagery, there is also the complexity and intensity of design across the entire surface of the piece! The plant and cloud designs around the body of the jar are delicately painted. Above these are cloud patterns and plant designs. The circular band is a sun pattern, which Virgil says represents his addition to the iconography of Cochiti pottery. The neck is also fully designed with a plant pattern. There is a space on the rim of the neck where it is unpainted, which is the “heartline”, which Virgil always paints on his clay vessels. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 3,200.00
This Zuni carving is by Calvin Haloo. The badger is carved from Picasso Marble. It is highly detailed for the body of the piece. The badger has a realistic appearance. The arrowhead on the back is carved into the piece and there is an additional turquoise arrowhead on top.
$ 90.00
This Zuni carving is by Daphne Quam. It is a badger carved from labradorite. There is a lot of color in the stone! There is an arrowhead on the back.
$ 32.00
This Zuni carving by Tim Lementino. It is a group of five bears carved from pipestone. They each have turquoise eyes. There is a bundle holding them together from shell and turquoise.
$ 65.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This small bowl is made from red clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black). There is white clay for the eyes. There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 25.00
Cheryl Naha Nampeyo is a daughter of Shirley Benn and a granddaughter of Daisy Hooee. She is also a descendant of Nampeyo of Hano. This is one of her small “ant bowls”. She says of these:
The story was told to me by my grandmother Daisy Hooee Nampeyo as it was told to her grandmother. Long ago, the People wanted to get rid of the ants around the house. They would hunt for the hives in the bushes or trees. Once a hive was found, they would use honey. The honey was poured into small pots and place on top of anthills. All the ants would come out because they found that it was sweet. The people would use a hoe to move the pots of ants away from the home. That is how they got rid of the ants and that is why we call them “Ant pots”.
This small bowl is made from white clay and it is painted with bee-weed (black). There are a series of ants encircling the bowl as part of the story of moving the ants. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “C. Naha Nampeyo”.
$ 25.00
Mela Youngblood began making pottery in the late 1960’s and quickly achieved a distinctive style for her work. Each piece of her work very highly polished and when carved the edges are distinctly rounded. This bowl is a stylized version of the classic “gourd pot”. This style usually has indented areas on the surface of the vessel. On this piece Mela has created indentions on the side of the bowl leaving the top and bottom a fully polished surface. The bowl was made in 1974 and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is beautifully polished and unique in its form.
$ 1,500.00
This is a collaborative jar by Jennifer Moquino and Russell Sanchez. Russell made the bowl and polished the surface. After the firing he two-toned the medallions and inset the hei-shi beads. Jennifer etched each of the medallions with a combination of modern and pre-historic fish! Each medallion is highly detailed. The lid is a sculptural fish from clay leaping out of the water. The jar is signed by both Russell and Jennifer. It is an exceptional example of their collaborative pottery.
$ 3,400.00
This Zuni carving by Lena Boone. She is one of the most famous of the traditional Zuni fetish carvers. This badger is carved from turquoise and has a medicine bundle on it back.
$ 40.00
This Zuni carving by Abby Quam. She is known for her stylized bears with a heartline. This bear has a turquoise heartline and it is carved from chrysacolla, which is similar to turquoise. The bear is beautifully finished.
$ 32.00
Calvin Analla learned to make pottery from his sister, Yvonne Lucas and her husband, Steve Lucas. This unique bowl is made from mixing two different types of clay together. That creates the mottled appearance of the clay. The bowl is a classic shape and it is painted with cloud and rain designs. Note the very fine lines of the rain pattern! The designs are painted on with bee-weed (a plant). The bowl is amazingly thin walled, which is typical of Calvin’s pottery. It is signed on the bottom.
$ 300.00
This jar by Johnathan Naranjo captures his unique style of sgraffito and etching on his pottery. The jar is fully polished and has three realistic bees etched around the neck. They are detailed and surrounded by a more lightly etched wind design. Below the shoulder the jar is etched with a series of flowers. The entire piece has been traditionally fired to create a the coloration. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Johnathan has won numerous awards for his pottery and Johnathan is definitely one of the young potters to watch!
$ 300.00
This Zuni carving by Delvin Leekay is carved from mottled brown travertine. It is one of the most traditionally used stones at Zuni. The eyes are inset with turquoise. There is an arrowhead on the back.
$ 32.00
This Zuni carving by Michael Mahooty is carved from spiderweb turquoise. It is a striking coloration to the stone. There is an arrowhead and medicine bundle on the back.
$ 55.00
This Zuni carving by Bernard Laiwakete is carved from Orthocera fossil. It has a heartline on one side and the other side it is possible to see the fossils!
$ 80.00
This Zuni carving by Rodney Laiwakete is carved from agate. There is a Big Horn Sheep which has an inlaid turquoise and moher -of -pearl heartline. The bird on the back is also carved from agate. It is attached as a medicine bundle.
$ 55.00
This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from glass. This fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back. The glass is red with gold flecks on one side.
$ 40.00
This Zuni carving by Derrick Kaamasee is carved from turquoise. There are two eagles and a small baby eagle on the branch by their feet. The piece is very intricately carved with much detail to the wings. The eyes are inlaid with jet.
$ 100.00
This Zuni carving by Cheryl Beyuka has two wolves carved from pipestone. They are connected and there is a dragonfly on top carved from black marble and wings carved from apple coral and mother of pearl. It is symbolic as wolves mate for life and the dragonfly is symbolic of prayers.
$ 80.00
This Zuni carving by Herbert Pincion is carved from serpentine. It has a horse and foal intricately carved in stone.
$ 40.00
Lois Gutierrez is one of the few potters who continues to create traditional polychrome (more than 3 colors of clay) pottery at Santa Clara pueblo. This is a traditional style water jar with a low shoulder and a kiva step rim. On one side there is a water serpent and a turtle painted as the design. On the opposite side there are two turtles, a rainbow and a cloud pattern. Painted on the front of the kiva step pattern is also a cloud design. Below the shoulder is a rain and cloud pattern. It is complex and striking design on the jar! The jar has been traditionally fired outdoor and overall is a striking coloration. It is signed on the indented bottom of the jar. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 1,200.00
Teresita Naranjo was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and know for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is her classic style with a very deeply carved avanyu circling the piece. Teresita was considered the first of the Santa Clara potters to carve outside of a linear band. This can be seen here with the design coming down from the rim and up from the base. The carving is very deep and complicated and the background has the traditional cream colored clay slip. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Teresita Naranjo”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are a couple of light rubs which can be seen on the jar and have priced it accordingly.
$ 1,200.00
Polly Rose Folwell is known for use of classic designs on her traditional inspired Santa Clara pottery. This bowl is coil built and fired brown. The designs are bird wing patterns inspired from various pueblos. The pattern on the top of the bowl has both painted and linear patterns, reminiscent of San Ildefonso pottery. The central area has Hopi style bird wings. The base has Acoma style bird wing patterns. It is interesting how she has brought all these together in one piece and contrasts the various styles. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. .
$ 600.00
Les Namingha is known for the innovative shapes and designs on his pottery. He pulls from both his Hopi-Tewa and Zuni ancestry to create designs. This jar is one of his classic shape with the round body and the elongated neck. The jar has Hopi-Tewa style birds painted around the neck. They are each detailed with various traditional designs from feathers to rain and cloud motifs. While they background is a peach color with blue dots, the birds are traditional clay colors of black, red and white. The area around the side of the jar has a white migration pattern painted note the very subtle black bands which encircle the jar. The bottom is painted with a sun pattern. The intricacy of the jar is striking and an exceptional balance of traditional and contemporary imagery. The jar is signed on the bottom.
$ 2,400.00
Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery. The use of the new black micaceous clay on his pottery is both exciting and visually stunning! Russell said that he was inspired by the use of the micaceous clay on utilitarian vessels and how he could use it to better match his highly polished surfaces. The result is a black stone polished micaceous surface which has a high shine and a color that somehow ranges from gray to black to almost a blue, depending on the light! It is quite exceptional! In addition, the deep red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s. It is the perfect complement to the black mica! This jar has a double shoulder, which has been carved into the clay. It is polished red, as is the lower band below the central design and even the inside of the neck of the jar!! The avanyu (water serpent) has been etched into the surface of clay, revealing the tan coloration. There is an inset piece of Lone Mountain turquoise for the eye along with black jet inlay around each medallion was made by the Calabasa family of Kewa Pueblo. The balance of color, shape and design work perfectly on this jar. It is signed on the bottom in the clay and yes, it is stunning!
Click here to read: Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past
$ 6,800.00
Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery. Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched. This bear is one of his classic shapes. The bear is fully polished with a deep red clay slip for the two medallions. Russell has brought back the deep red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s. It is an extraordinary coloration! One medallion has a cougar and the other an elk. However, it the overall color of the piece, which is polished with a black mica clay, which is extraordinary. Russell said that he was inspired by the use of the micaceous clay on utilitarian vessels and how he could use it to better match his highly polished surfaces. The result is a black stone polished micaceous surface which has a high shine and a color that somehow ranges from gray to black to almost a blue, depending on the light! It is quite exceptional! The bear also has a heartline, which is symbolic of the bears and their symbolism for good luck. The black jet inlay around each medallion was made by the Calabasa family of Santo Domingo. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. Stunning!
Click here to read: Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past
$ 5,800.00
During the 1950’s Maria Martinez made and polished pottery and signed using her Tewa name, “Maria Poveka”. Poveka means “Water Lilly”. This is one of her classic open bowls, which are polished on both the inside and outside. Interestingly, today, few potters will attempt to fully polish the inside and outside of a piece, as it adds the possibility of it cracking. The bowl is very highly polished and there are small areas of gunmetal and coloration in the black from the heat of the firing. The bowl is signed in the clay on the bottom, “Maria Pove’ka”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 2,000.00
This is a classic jar by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the jar while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da (1923-1971). The jar is highly polished and has a feather pattern around the shoulder. It is the firing which has given it the striking surface. It has a black to gunmetal firing. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria Popovi 467“. The signature indicates that it was made around in April, 1967. The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 2,800.00
Ethel Vigil is a daughter of noted potter Mida Tafoya. She has been making pottery since 1975. This seedpot is deeply carved with a feather pattern around the top and a water serpent (avanyu) around the body of the piece. Note the depth of the carving! The bowl is highly polished and fired red. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 225.00
This is one of Ray Tafoya’s few wedding vase miniatures. The entire piece is fully polished and fired red. The design is a hummingbird in a medallion on each side of the piece. There are feather designs on the side and additional highlights of yellow clay. The wedding vase is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
$ 725.00
Jody Folwell is known for her creative pottery shapes and designs. This bowl is one of her few miniatures. The jar is highly polished and etched with a feather pattern around the body of the piece. There are both larger and smaller feathers along with the Folwell family “x”. The various colors on the surface are from the firing. It is signed on the bottom, “Jody”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 300.00
Forrest Naranjo’s pottery is coil built, stone polished and traditionally fired brown and then etched with designs. This miniature was made by both Forrest and his wife Karen. It is asymmetrical in shape and has Mimbres style Flute players etched into the clay. It is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 150.00
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is deeply carved with a classic kiva step pattern. The design over the steps is a rainbow. Note how deeply she carves into the clay relative to the size of the bowl! After it is carved and polished she then uses clay to outline the design. Visually, this makes the imagery more dramatic. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
This is a classic style Hopi-Tewa jar by Mark Tahbo. The jar has a wide, round body, a high shoulder, and a slight neck. The neck has been slipped red, but it fired so deeply it is almost black in coloration. The body of the piece has two bird, which are painted horizontally. The style of the birds is inspired by the pottery of Nampeyo of Hano, who revived this style of bird. The birds are painted with two different colors of red clay slip. The black is bee-weed (a plant). The jar is traditionally fired to create the various colorations from the heat of the fire. It is signed on the bottom with a pipe for his “Tobacco Clan”.
$ 550.00
This bowl by Robert Naranjo is from 1995. He began making pottery in 1982 and learned from his mother Mollie Naranjo and his aunt, Julie Martinez. It is highly polished and two-toned black and sienna with the rim being a lighter color. The bowl is etched with a realistic style bear, buffalo and deer. Separating them are lightly etched plants and petroglyphs. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 175.00
Reycita Naranjo was a daughter of noted potter Pablita Chavarria. This piece is one of her smaller carved jars. The jar has a cloud pattern carved at the base of the neck and a water serpent around the body of the piece. The carving on Reycita’s pottery is more shallow with crisp lines. Her polishing creates an even tonality to the surface. The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 150.00
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This bowl is deeply carved with a rain and lightning design. Note how deeply she carves into the clay relative to the size of the bowl! After it is carved and polished she then uses clay to outline the design. Visually, this makes the imagery more dramatic. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
Clarissa Tafoya learned to make pottery from her mother Rose Tafoya and her grandmother, Lucaria Tafoya. She is married to Timothy Roller, a son of Toni Roller. This jar is carved with a water serpent encircling the shoulder of the piece. Below the avanyu there are water designs. The jar is deeply carved and fired a deep black. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
Bernice Naranjo is known for her innovative incised pottery. This seedpot is fully polished and fired brown. She has etched a series of lizards on the surface of the piece. Some are placed sitting on the red polished clay and others on fine-line etched sections reminiscent of the sand or pottery shards. The piece is signed on the bottom.
Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This jar is carved with a water serpent around the body of the piece. In this style, Carol’s work is distinguishable as she usually carves into the negative space for her designs. Note as well how deeply they are carved and the clay outline of the carved areas. The high polished creates a visual contrast to the matte of the carved and painted areas. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.
This bowl by Christine Nieto (1965-2008) is highly polished and traditionally fired. The bowl has a series of four bear paws etched into the surface of the clay. Each bear paw has a kiva step pattern in the center. Christine was known for her brown fired pottery and delicately etched designs. The bowl is signed on the bottom.
$ 110.00
Rose Gutierrez is a daughter of noted potter Helen Gutierrez and a sister of Geraldine Gutierrez and Kathy Gutierrez. This is a simple bowl with a flower motif around the rim painted with cream colored clay. The side of bowl has a painted spider as well as one on the inside. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.
Geraldine Gutierrez is a daughter of noted potter Helen Gutierrez. Geraldine is known for her use of traditional pottery designs. This bowl is polished red and has a painted avanyu (water serpent), as the design. It is signed on the bottom in the clay.
This is a wide storage jar shaped piece by Geri Naranjo. She is known for her miniature pottery and intricate designs. Here the entire piece is fully polished and the rim is two-toned sienna. The shoulder of the jar has a an etched avanyu, then feather pattern. The remainder is a a very highly polished black. There are two small storm patterns near the base. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Geri Naranjo”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
$ 400.00
Dolly Naranjo is a daughter of Rose Naranjo and the mother of Jody and Elijah Naranjo. This canteen is fully polished and has been fired brown. There is a bird and flowers etched into the front of the piece. There is a leather strap for the handles. It is signed “Dolly” on the bottom in the clay.
This is one of the largest seedpots we have had by Ray Tafoya. The entire piece is fully polished and fired black. The design is etched into the clay with butterflies and flowers as the design on top. The design below the shoulder is a series of flowers. Note how the hole for the opening is off-center. All the various colors are added after the designs are etched into the clay. The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay with Ray’s hallmark. This piece was originally purchased in 1987 and at that time he had just begun making some larger pieces. The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Ray is the father of noted potter Jennifer Moquino and you can see how she continues to use his stylistic designs in her pottery. Check out the last photo for scale!
$ 975.00
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