Jennifer Moquino is known for her clay vessels and exceptional realistic animals. This jar is coil built and fully polished.  It is a wonderful shape which is square on the sides and flat on the top. Technically that is always difficult to achieve with native clay. The flat area has four pheasants etched into the clay.  Each one is in a different state of standing both male and female.  Note the area behind where she has etched some very intricate plants with grass,w wind and mountain patterns!  This pot has a tall polish neck flowing into the flat carved areas.   The bottom is also fully polished.  All the colors are all from natural clay slips.  Jennifer continues to be one of the leading innovative potters working today!

Jennifer Moquino is known for her clay vessels and also her amazing animal figures! This is a charming raccoon made from clay.  The entire back is stone polished.  The face is highly detailed, as is the tail. The back has raccoon paw tracks in the center.  There are realistic fish, rain clouds and feather designs.  This raccoon is larger than many of the others she has made. All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Jennifer continues to be one of the leading innovative potters working today!

Jennifer Moquino is known for her clay vessels and also her amazing animal figures. This turtle is fired black.  It is fully polished on its back.  There is a feather pattern along six dragonflies.  There is remarkable detail for the size of the piece!  All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Jennifer continues to be one of the leading innovative potters working today!

Jennifer Moquino is known for her clay vessels and also her amazing animal figures! This wolf is one of her larger figures and it is fired black and the back is fully polished.  It is realistically etched on the face.  The back of the piece is designed with a hand in the center.  There is a heartline and there are feather patterns on two sides and a rain design in another section.  The face and neck are wonderfully realistic!   All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Jennifer continues to be one of the leading innovative potters working today!

Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo was a great-granddaughter of Nampeyo of Hano and granddaughter of Annie Healing,  She was also a sister of  Dextra Quotskuyva Nampeyo. Priscilla was the matriarch of a family of renown potters, including Rachel, Bonnie, Nyla and Jean Sahmie.  Priscilla began making pottery when she was only seven years old, under the guidance of Nampeyo of Hano. This large bowl is a classic of her style.  It is thin walled and painted with the classic “eagle tail” pattern, which was made famous by Nampeyo.  The top section is slipped with red clay while the design itself is painted with bee-weed (a plant) for the black. Each of the four eagle tails extends down over the shoulder and are surrounded by the bird wings.  The bowl was traditionally fired, so there are striking blushes on the surface.  Priscilla was known for her traditional designs along with the tightly painted designs.  The bowl is signed on the bottom “Priscilla Namingha Nampeyo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is nice to see such a large and classic designed piece of her work in the gallery!

Val Kahe is a daughter of noted potter Gloria Kahe.  She is known for her intricately painted pottery.  This is one of her more complex designed seedpots. The top half has a series of pottery shards, which are inter-connected.  Most are painted with bee-weed (black) while some are polished a deep red and then painted with the black bee-weed.  Each of the red shards is a different bird or moth or flower or mosquito!  Check out the very fine lines used in her painting!  The seedpot has then been traditionally fired to create the fire clouds.  It is signed on the bottom.

Jennifer Moquino is known for her clay vessels and exceptional realistic animals. This jar is coil built and fully polished.  It is a wonderful shape which is square on the sides and VERY flat on the top. Technically that is always difficult to achieve with native clay. The flat area has nine quail etched into the clay.  Each one is in a different state of standing or flying.  Note the area behind where she has etched some very intricate plants and agave!  Towards the rim is a micaceous clay slip and the designs on the edge are reminiscent of those by her father, Ray Tafoya.  The bottom is also fully polished.  All the colors are all from natural clay slips.  Jennifer continues to be one of the leading innovative potters working today!

This seedpot was made, polished and incised by Debra Duwyenie.  The design has a sunface on one side.  It is surrounded by hummingbirds, butterflies and flowers.  All the design work is etched into the seedpot before it is fired!  Few potters take the risk to etch their pieces before they are fired.  However, note the background gray area of her design and the vertical lines etched into the clay.  After the piece was fired, Debra “two-toned” it so that it is black and sienna.  The colors vary across the surface of the piece. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Debra”.

This is a very intricately painted jar by Rebecca Lucario.  She is known for her delicate and very finely painted pottery.  This jar is a more classic Acoma shape with the high shoulder.  The entire surface is fully painted with small diamond shapes.  Each diamond shape is then designed in series of four, to create a larger design!  Each of the four are either painted with fine-lines or with a checkerboard pattern.  Note at the top and bottom there are a row where each is painted with an additional deep red clay! The base has a orange-red clay slip.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “R Lucario”.

Rainy Naha learned to make pottery from her mother, Helen “Featherwoman” Naha.  Rainy continues is a similar style using a white clay slip as the foundation for her work.  This jar is thin walled and very detailed in the painted designs.  Here, the eagle tail extends out from the mouth of the bowl.  The wide bands are the tail feathers of the bird while the circular extensions on both sides are the wings.  Each of the tails are composed of various Hopi designs.  Note how Rainy has used over four different clay colors to achieve the dynamic appearance of the designs!  Few potters spend the time to seek out so many colors and few are able to use them with such skill!  Rainy uses natural clay slips (bee-weed for the black) and a white kaolin clay.  Each of her pieces is also traditionally fired which gives the white a very pearlescent appearance.  It is signed on the bottom with a feather and “Rainy”.

This is an amazingly intricate miniature by Ida Sahmie.  It is the Day Chant Dance with eight male Yei-bi-chi dancers encircling the jar.  The background area is fully polished the natural color of the clay.  In the background, there are the mesas, clouds, and even birds!  Note how she has also painted the shadows of each dancer extending to the base of the bowl.  Ida also incises into the clay for the faces and the bodies, leather and masks.  She is a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Ida Sahmie”.

This is an amazingly intricate miniature by Ida Sahmie.  It is the Night Chant Dance with eight male Yei-bi-chi dancers encircling the jar.  The background area is fully painted with bee-weed (a plant) to make it black.  In the background there are the mesas and a fire in the “center”.  This is her attempt to create a “3D” story on the vessel!  Ida also incises into the clay for the faces and the bodies, leather and masks.  She is a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Ida Sahmie”.

This is a very traditionally inspired tile by Ida Sahmie.  It is “Father Sky”, which is a design often seen in sandpaintings.  Here, Ida has painted it on a stone polished tile using natural clay slips and bee-weed (a plant) for the black.  Father Sky is in the center with the cosmos painted on the body.  Surrounding the figure is a rainbow design.  Note how areas are etched into the clay, as well as painted!  Tthe tile was traditionally fired and it is signed on the back, “Ida Sahmie”.  She is a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.   The story of Father Sky and Mother Earth, and the Dine people is as follows:

“The Navajo people, the Diné, passed through three different worlds before emerging into this world, The Fourth World, or Glittering World. The Diné believe there are two classes of beings: the Earth People and the Holy People. The Holy People are believed to have the power to aid or harm the Earth People. Since Earth People of the Diné are an integral part of the universe, they must do everything they can to maintain harmony or balance on Mother Earth.  It is believed that centuries ago the Holy People taught the Diné how to live the right way and to conduct their many acts of everyday life. They were taught to live in harmony with Mother Earth, Father Sky and the many other elements such as man, animals, plants, and insects.”

This is an amazingly complex tile by Ida Sahmie.  It is the Night Chant Dance with seven male Yei-bi-chi dancers in a row.  The background area is fully painted with bee-weed (a plant) to make it black.  In the background there are the mesas and a fire in the “center”.  This is her attempt to create a “3D” story on the tile!  Ida also incises into the clay for the faces and the bodies, leather, and masks.  She is a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Ida Sahmie”.  It is traditionally fired and painted with natural clay slips and bee-weed (the black).

Dextra Quostkuyva Nampeyo is certainly one of the most influential Hopi-Tewa potters of the last 50 years. Not only has she taught numerous potters (Steve Lucas, Yvonne Lucas, Les Namingha, Loren Ami, Hisi Nampeyo, to name just a few), but her creative designs and forms changed have dramatically influenced the pottery itself.  This is an earlier jar from 1984.  It is painted with a very fine-line bird wing pattern. The design is repeated four times around the shoulder of the piece.  The rim of the jar is also very tightly painted. It is painted with natural clay slips and bee-weed (black) and traditionally fired to create the blushes or fire-clouds on the surface.   The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Dextra” along with a corn plant to represent the Corn Clan.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is a little superficial slip crack on the base, which can be seen in the photo of the signature.  This jar is also published in the book, “Painted Perfection” on page 75.  Dextra was the subject of a retrospective of her pottery at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture, along with a companion book entitled, “Painted Perfection“.

Thomas Natseway is one of the most renown miniaturists in Pueblo pottery.  Rarely does he make a piece which is over 1″ tall or wide!  This is one of his few larger figurative pieces.  It is woman with a shawl holding a clay bowl  He has painted a lot of detail in the shawl and the plate.  The figure is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Barbara & Joseph Cerno are known for their large coil built vessels.  This is one of their figurative pieces.  There are two snakes intertwined together.  The backs of each snake are painted with diamond designs.  It is interesting how they weave together to become one piece.  The snakes are from 2006 and it is signed on the bottom.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.   Barbara & Joseph remain among the most renown contemporary Acoma potters for their revival of historic patterns.

Jennie Laate was among the most important revival potters at Zuni in the 1970’s.  This miniature owl clay figure.  It is coil built and in the style of the classic Zuni owls.  She has painted the feathers onto the surface of the piece.  It signed on the bottom and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The last photo is of the owl next to the large jar which is online relative to scale.

Susan “Snowflake” Romero’s pottery is highly polished and intricately etched with detailed imagery.  She learned to make pottery from her father, Joseph Lonewolf. This seedpot has a realistic style of butterfly on the top.  The butterfly is surrounded by flowers. There are various levels of etching on the piece, including some wonderful areas which are just tan.  The polishing has created a high shine.  The seepot is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and signed on the bottom.

his miniature jar by Camilio Tafoya is from  by Camilio is from 1975. It is etched with a feather pattern around the neck.  At the base the piece is polished and there is a single flower also etched into the surface of the clay.  It is signed on the bottom “Camilio Sunflower Tafoya”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair..

Dextra Quostkuyva Nampeyo is certainly one of the most influential Hopi-Tewa potters of the last 50 years. Not only has she taught numerous potters (Steve Lucas, Yvonne Lucas, Les Namingha, Loren Ami, Hisi Nampeyo, to name just a few), but her creative designs and forms changed have dramatically influenced the pottery itself.  This is a fascinating bowl which has two openings.  On one side there is a flower painted on the clay with a tiny hummingbird.  The other side has a black painted star pattern.  The bowl is signed on the inside.  The bowl sits on a clay tile, which has been traditionally fired and is also signed in the clay.  The fine lines of the painting, along with the blush from the traditional firing make this an exceptional piece of her pottery. It is painted with red clay slips along with bee-weed (black).  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Dextra was the subject of a retrospective of her pottery at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture, along with a companion book entitled, “Painted Perfection“.

This is an exceptional miniature seedpot by Rosemary Lonewolf!  It is fully designed with three birds and a band of flowers around the shoulder.  Spiraling around the top of the seedpot is a feather design and there is a small flower on the very top! Rosemary has added additional white and blue colorations for the clay on this piece.  The various colors are all derived from natural clay slips.  The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom.

This miniature red jar by Grace Medicine Flower is fully polished and incised.  The design is a central medallion with a Mimbres inspired flute player.  Around the shoulder are alternating turtles and frogs.  The jar is from 1998 and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Grace Medicine Flower”.

This seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf is from 1997.  The piece is entitled, “Leaping Grasshoppers”.  It includes a signed version of the card which Joseph made for each of his miniatures.  There is also a photo of Joseph holding the piece! Joseph wrote partially of this piece,

“Portrayed side view are two geometrically designed and color-toned grasshoppers.  Representative of the Mimbres Period – 10th to 14th centuries. Both grasshoppers appear to be leaping.  Beneath the plant-eating insects is a higly polished red slipwork symbolic of Mother Earth.  Swirled and jagged to denote “Her” terrain, MOther Earth’s surface is only sparsely vegetated.”

The butterfly etched on the back is symbolic of beauty and the the interlocking rings medallion represents the attachment between friends and was the yearly symbol for 1997.   This piece was actually purchased at our gallery show for Joseph Lonewolf and Grace Medicine Flower in 1998! Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  The piece is signed on the bottom and includes the signed artist card.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This seedpot is entitled, “Call to the Creatures”.  Joseph wrote of this piece:

“The time has come…the People must stock up on food and clothing once again.  Standing upon the design symbolic of his pathway, the flute player lifts his flute and calls the creatures on the back side of this creation.  Encircled by the musical story coming from his flute, the flute player, symbolic of leadership, tells the rabbit, antelope, ram, and fish to come forth and provide the people all they require”.

This seedpot is very intricately designed with a fourish of the flute player on the piece. There is an additional green clay slip used to highlight the piece. The yearly symbol for 1984 is near the base and it is a rainbow, symbolising a bright future.  The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It includes the original card with the information on the piece.

This seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf is from 1998.  The piece is entitled, “Secreted Fawn”.  It includes a signed version of the card which Joseph made for each of his miniatures.  This piece was actually made for our show at the gallery with Joseph and Grace Medicine Flower in 1998.   Joseph wrote partially of this piece,

“Portrayed against a blue sky background is a single realistically designed Mule Deer fawn, most of which are born in June or July.  Nestled, side view, in an abundance of sheltered valley grasses, remote to other members of the heard, the fawn is partially encircled by eight yellow disked, red tipped daisy blossoms, which denote all that is sweet, or pleasant, in life.

Three small realistically designed cabbage white  butterflies, symbolic of beauty in life, are portrayed with the fawn.  two wings about the new born in a delicate, unhurried flight and one alight on the tip of the newborn’s right ear.”

On the back of the seedpot in the red is a Mule Deer buck, doe and fawn sketched into the clay.  They are inspired by the Mimbres pottery designs of the 11th century.  The interlocking rings medallion represents the attachment between friends and was the yearly symbol for 1997.  Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  The piece is signed on the bottom and includes the signed artist card.  There is also a photo of Joseph holding the piece! It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Sylvia Naha created pieces with the white clay polished surface painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  Throughout the 1980’s, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were classic in form and amazingly intricate in design.  This jar has two of her classic designs, the lizards and the corn plants. Each lizard is painted with a series of triangular geometrics.  They are painted at a slant on the jar.  Separating the lizards are two corn plants. Corn has strong symbolism for prosperity and abundance.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The jar is signed on the bottom with a feather and an “S”.

This is a very early piece by Art Cody Haungooah.  It is a tall jar which is fully polished and carved around the shoulder. The carved design is a single feather, which he has etched into to the clay.  The remainder of the jar is plain.  It was only in 1972 that Art began to make pottery and this piece is signed with his earlies signature, “Haungooah”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Art Cody Haungooah, click below:

Art Cody Haungooh: A “Reflected Light” in Pueblo Pottery

This is a very early piece by Art Cody Haungooah.  It is an open bowl and it is fully polished. The design is etched into one side of the piece. There is a single Pueblo style bird with deep etching around the design.  The remainder of the bowl is plain.  It was only in 1972 that Art began to make pottery and this piece is signed with his earlies signature, “Haungooah”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Art Cody Haungooah, click below:

Art Cody Haungooh: A “Reflected Light” in Pueblo Pottery

This is bowl by Art Cody Haungooah is from 1975.  The style of this bowl was some of the favorite work that Art made during his career.  Here, the top of the bowl is slipped with a brown clay, while the bottom half is red.  The bowl is etched around the center with a stylized feather pattern.  The area around the design is more deeply etched to reveal the tan clay. The bowl was made by Martha, while Art did the polishing and designs.  The bowl is indented on the bottom and also fully polished.  It is signed, “Art & Martha Haungooah, Santa Clara Pueblo, 1977”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Art Cody Haungooah, click the link below:

Art Cody Haungooh: A “Reflected Light” in Pueblo Pottery

This is one of the few pieces signed by both Art Cody Haungooah and his wife, Martha.  Martha made the small jar and polished the surface.  Art Cody etched the design.  The central medallion is a howling coyote.  In front of the coyote is a quarter moon.  On the opposite side of the moon is a stylized bird.  There is just a slight lip to the jar.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Art & Martha Haungooah  1976”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Art Cody Haungooah, click the link below:

Art Cody Haungooh: A “Reflected Light” in Pueblo Pottery

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”.

This is a classic polychrome jar by Margaret & Luther Gutierrez.  Margaret would make the pottery and Luther, her brother, Luther,  would paint them.  This jar is one of their classic shapes with a round body and slight neck.  Allt he various colors are derived from native clay slips.  There are four medallions on the jar.  Two have warriors or hunters and the other two have animals (a bear and a mountain lion). The bear and mountain lion both have heartlines as part of their designs.  Note the various clay colors used on this jar, including the green and orange.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “Margaret / Luther” and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Rainy Naha is known for her delicately painted Hopi-Tewa pottery.  This bowl is one of her classic shape with a wide shoulder and just a slight neck.  The design is the “Awatovi Star” pattern, which was revived by her mother, Helen “Featherwoman” Naha.  Awatovi is one of the ruins near Hopi where a white slipped style of pottery was made.  It is a fascinating place as it was where Coronado made contact with the Hopi in 1540.  During the excavations in the 1930’s the whiteware pottery was rediscovered.  It was the imagery from his work which inspired much of Helen’s early pottery, as opposed to the more classic Sikyatki inspired pottery of Nampeyo of Hano.  This bowl has the “Awatovi Star” pattern painted on the top and the bottom.  Around the shoulder is her “eternity band” design.  The bowl has been traditionally fired and there is some variation to the color with the fired cloud, which certainly adds to the beauty of the piece.  It is tightly painted using bee-weed (black) on a white kaolin clay surface. There is a balance of the design on the surface as the piece is turned which is simply beautiful!  It is signed on the bottom  with a feather and her name.

This is a classic shaped miniature jar by Dorothy Torivio.  She was among the first to utilize and then refine the “op-art” style in her Acoma pottery. She took classic Acoma patterns and then repeated them on a vessel, ranging the size from small to large and then small again, in accordance with the shape of the vessel.  The shape of the jar is one which Dorothy created to emphasize her patined designs.  The long neck has a yucca leaf pattern, which is repeated in smaller and then larger sizes.  The open space of the white and the contrasting black give the jar a very modern appearance.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “Dorothy Torivio” and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is one of the smaller pieces we have had by Santana and Adam Martinez.  Adam was the youngest son of Maria Martinez, and Santana painted Maria’s pottery in the 1940-50’s. The entire surface is fully polished.  The design is painted around the shoulder of the bowl.  It is a rain and lightning pattern.  The bowl was traditionally fired to a very dark black appearance.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Santana + Adam”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Definitely a classic piece!

Rebecca Lucario is known for her delicate and intricately painted pottery.  This jar is very intricately painted with thin lines.  They create a series of interlocking stars.  The rim fo the jar is painted with Mimbres figures, each holding hands.  The bottom of the jar is impressed in the traditional manner.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “R Lucario”.

Emily Tafoya was the wife of noted potter Ray Tafoya and is the mother of Jennifer Moquino. This seedpot is fully polished green and etched with a hummingbird, flower and butterflies.  All the various additional clay colors are added after the firing. It is signed on the bottom.

Debra Duwyenie is well known for her wonderful miniatures and incised designs. Each piece is stone polished and then it is etched before it is fired! This tile is flat with ten turtles.  Each of them has a different design on its back.  Usually, Debra etches one of the turtles to have a “shifting sand” design to represent her husband, Preston Duwyenie.  That one can be seen in the corner.  Surrounding the turtles are lots of dragonflies along with a lizard.  The edge of the tile has a water serpent encircling the piece  and a rain cloud in the corner.  Note that the lighter red matte areas are where Debra has only etched away the polished surface but not down as far as the tan color of the clay. Debra also pays close attention to the little details like the tan background area and how evenly she etches the vertical lines.   The back of the tile is also fully polished.  The piece is signed on the back by both artists.

Dolores Curran creates intricately incised and painted pottery.  She was inspired to create these red polychrome incised and painted by her husband, Alvin Curran.  He was known for his incised San Juan style pottery in the 1990’s.  This piece is in the shape of a storage jar with the tall round sides and the slight neck.  The top and bottom are fully polished red. The area around the center is incised with turtles and dragonflies. Each is different and they are each surrounded by a step pattern. The jar is amazingly complex in design for its size!

Dolores Curran creates intricately incised and painted pottery.  She was inspired to create these red polychrome incised and painted by her husband, Alvin Curran.  He was known for his incised San Juan style pottery in the 1990’s.  This piece is a round “box” which is incised with a feather pattern.  Each feather is highlighted in white.  As the piece is turned, there are two red sections, one which is a matte red flower.  The other is a polished red figure.  The band on the lid is an incised avanyu.  The lid top is fully polished and the underside has a stylized plant design.  The piece is amazingly complex in design for its size!  It is signed on the bottom.

Madeline Naranjo creates beautifully carved and polished pottery.  This jar is called, “Blessings from Above”.  She said of this piece:

“I dreamt of this shape and design the night before I made it.  I was so happy with its creation”.

The jar is a teardrop shape and has four avanyu (water serpents) carved into the clay.  They alternate between polished and matte surfaces.  The deeply carved designs and the highly polished surfaces work perfectly on this jar.  Note as well how her matte areas are sanded and perfectly smooth so that there are no indentions or areas where the matte might make a shadow.  Her designs are always innovative and beautifully executed.  It is signed on the bottom.

Rebecca Lucario is known for her delicate and intricately painted pottery.  This plate is very intricately painted.  In the center is a fine-line star design.  Extending outward is a swirl star pattern with triangular shapes.  The triangles are either black, fine-line or white.  They get larger as they get closer to the rim.  Although it is a smaller plate, the design is visually dynamic.  It is signed on the back.

This is one of the largest jars we have had by Grace Chino.  She was a daughter of noted potter Marie Z. Chino and a sister of noted potters Carrie Chino Charlie and Rose Chino. Over the years she won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and her work was featured in the “7 Families in Pueblo Pottery” and in museums around the country.  This large jar is just black-on-white and it has the shape much like some of the ancient Chaco or Mesa Verde pottery.  This jar has a mountain design around the neck and the body of the piece has swirling patterns with flower and feather designs. The graphic pattern of the designs is further enhanced by the fineline interior designs in many of the sections. As the jar is turned there is a constant flow of imagery.  The jar was traditionally fired and so there is just a tinge of blush near the base.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed and dated on the bottom.

Dextra Quostkuyva Nampeyo is certainly one of the most influential Hopi-Tewa potters of the last 50 years. Not only has she taught numerous potters (Steve Lucas, Yvonne Lucas, Les Namingha, Loren Ami, Hisi Nampeyo, to name just a few), but her creative designs and forms changed have dramatically influenced the pottery itself.  This is a more classic piece of her pottery.  It is painted with natural clay slips and bee-weed (black) and traditionally fired to create the blushes or fire-clouds on the surface.  The jar has four swans painted around the shoulder.  Note how the deep red is polished on the neck and the rim of the jar.  The base of the jar is matte red and the inside of the mouth of the jar is an unusual tan coloration.  The swans are painted to extend up from the shoulder.  Note the photo of the jar from the top and how she has squared the rim but has the birds swirls around! It is this attention to the small details which makes her work so spectacular.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Dextra” along with a corn plant to represent the Corn Clan.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Dextra was the subject of a retrospective of her pottery at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture, along with a companion book entitled, “Painted Perfection“.

Gwen Tafoya (b. 1965) is a granddaughter of noted potter Severa Tafoya.  Each piece is coil built and stone polished.  This seedpot is fully polished red and etched with butterflies and flowers. Note the complex designs etched into the wings of each butterfly!  The flowers are also highly detailed around the base of the seedpot.   It is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Dolores Curran creates intricately incised and painted pottery.  She was inspired to create these red polychrome incised and painted by her husband, Alvin Curran.  He was known for his incised San Juan style pottery in the 1990’s.  This plate is exceptionally intricate in design.  The front has a water serpent etched around the rim.  The center is a complex square pattern which has four plants on each side.  Note both the precision of the incised designs but also how she used clay slips in the incised area to help accentuate the imagery!  The rim is fully polished red and the back is equally as complex with dragonflies, stylized birds, and flowers.  Again it is deeply incised, which is surprising for all the work that is also on the front!  There are both matte and micaceous clays used throughout. The mica adds a bit of “sparkle” to the designs.  The plate may be small but it is amazingly complex in design and color for its size!

This is a striking lidded jar by Dolores Curran.  She continues to create intricately incised and painted pottery.  This jar is incised a star pattern around the neck.  Each star is separated by a rainbow band.  Around the shoulder is a water serpent (avanyu) which is incised into the clay.  Note how she has a red clay above the avanyu and the lighter red below!  The lower section of the bowl is a usual tan coloration.  Ther are incised Pueblo faces and plant designs.  The bottom of the jar is highly polished and painted with dragonflies and prayer feathers.  The lid is designed to fit into the mouth of the jar so that it is stable.  The top of the lid is fully polished red. The finial is incised with a plant design and slipped with red and mica clay.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.   It is stunning in detail for the size!

This is a larger jar by Jennifer Moquino.  It is fully polished and has a wide shoulder and a small neck. The jar is very intricately etched with four koi fish.  Each is painted with different clay slips to create the dynamic coloration. Check out the movement of the koi as well as the waves!  They all have a sense of motion and movement!  Not only did she use clay slips, but also mica clays, which give the whole piece a bit of “sparkle”.  The bottom has plum blossoms, along with those on the top.  As well, check out the polishing overall, which has a very high shine!  Perfect balance to the intricate designs.  It is signed on the bottom.  It is this creative evolution in her work which keeps  Jennifer as one of the leading innovative potters working today!

This miniature seedpot by Ray Tafoya is fully polished and round in shape.  It has a Mimbres inspired flowers and butterflies as the design. The entire piece is fully polished with a green clay slip.   It is etched with the designs and then he used additonal clay colors to accentuate the designs. The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay with his hallmark, “White Mountain”.  The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Note how many of the designs are similar to ones used today by his daughter, Jennifer Moquino.  

This is an exceptional carved piece by Jennifer Moquino.  This is her first carved canteen. The interesting part about the carving for her work is that it is done even before the piece is polished so it takes more planning.  Here, there are four trout carved into the clay.  Note as well how she carved into the background area which is matte with little air bubbles and water ripples!  The fish are Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout and Gila Trout.  Each of the different trout is etched and highlighted with natural clay slips. The deep caring around them gives them added dimension.  The sides of the canteen are also carved with bear tracks on one side, and water swirls on the other. The polished surfaces are glassy.  Jennifer said it took her hours to polished this piece but the result is striking. The handles and the mouth of the canteen are matte.  It is signed on the bottom.  It is this creative evolution in her work which keeps  Jennifer as one of the leading innovative potters working today!

Russell Sanchez is one of the few Pueblo potters who makes traditional style boxes.  Each piece is flat on the bottom (not started in the traditional puki). The sides are flat the box is square or rectangular in shape.  This box was fired to a gunmetal finish, which is somewhat metallic in coloration.  The lid has etched bear paws on the handle for the lid, along with a cloud design.  Two of the sides have etched deer in mica slipped medallions.  The opposite sides have rain cloud designs using very traditional San Ildefonso imagery.  Russell has used black hei-shi beads to surround the two medallions. On the lid and sides of the box he has inset hemitite.  It is the perfect material to use on a gunmetal box as it reflects much the same coloration as the gunmetal fired surface.  The style of this box is similar to the earlier ones made at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s.  Russell continues to derive inspiration from the Pueblo potters of the past, yet stylize it to make it his own.   The box and lid are both signed on the bottom.

Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past

This miniatures bowl by Art Cody Haungooah has been fired black and then two-toned on the neck.  The top part is etched with cloud and stylized bird designs. You can see the eye (the black dot) of one of the birds.  They are surrounded by rain and wind designs.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is an intricately painted miniature bowl Dolores Curran.  Before she began making her carved pieces, she was well known for her delicately painted buff-on-red pottery.  The bowl is highly polished red and painted with a buff clay for the design.  Amazingly, she would paint each piece up to five times to get the color of the matte painted areas deep and consistent enough!  This piece has a feather pattern on two sections and a cloud and mountain design on the other two sections. For the size of the piece, it is amazing that it could even be painted!  Look at how perfect the lines are!  So why doesn’t Dolores make this style anymore? She ran out of the cream colored clay slip for the painting, and so only uses it as an accent on her new work!  As well, this is a larger sized piece of her painted pottery, as she mostly made miniatures due to the time consuming nature of the painting. The bowl is signed on the bottom.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This seedpot is from 1976 and it is fully designed. On the top is a Mimbres inspired rabbit.  The surrounding designs are water, grass and plant imagery.  The piece is highly polished and fired red.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay with the date.   It is in condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This bowl is very thin walled and has an indented bottom.  It is fully polished red and there are three medallions.  Each medallion has an antelope as the design.  The antelope are etched into the clay before firing.  The border of each medallion is polished green.  Joseph was one of the first potters to begin using clays that were not red and this is a very early example of his green clay slip.  The remainder of the bowl is fully polished red.  The precision of the designs and the shine of the polished surface create a perfect balance.  This piece is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Joseph Lonewolf began making pottery in 1970-1.  This is a very early piece of his pottery.  It is a more classic shape with a wide shoulder which slopes upward.  The bottom half of the piece is fully polished. The top is etched with a water serpent (avanyu) with a feather pattern, which is the style used by him and his family.  The matte background area is deeply etched swirls up from the shoulder and over the rim.  It must have been exciting in 1971 to see work that was so new and unique at the time!  This piece is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Joseph Lonewolf is certainly one of the most impactful potters from the 1970’s onward.  His creativity in designs and the realism of his sgraffito work has influenced numerous potters over the years.  Over the past 20 years, we have only had a couple of pieces come back to the gallery which were published in, “The Pottery Jewels of Joseph Lonewolf” book in 1976.  This is one of the seminal books on his pottery.  This piece is entitled, “Flight” and the photo of is a fascinating one in the book, where there was an attempt to photograph it “life size”.  Joseph wrote of this piece,

“The mule deer buck and doe are shown in the blow-up of this pot, in flight from an unfamiliar sound or scent that has reached them deep in the forest.  The traditional kilt design is shown on the back of the pot, actual size, on the top of the basket.  The deer provides many things worn in the winter dances along with the kilt.”

Technically, note the etching in the background area surrounding the two deer and how it accentuates the forms and polish.  this piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It signed on the bottom in the clay.  The amazing provenance on this piece is that this is the first time it has been on the market, as it was acquired from Joseph at the time of the release of the book and has been in one collection since then.   It is very unique opportunity to own a imporant piece of history by this exceptional and influential Pueblo artist!

This is one of the few pieces signed by both Art Cody Haungooah and his wife, Martha. The bowl is fully polished red and there is a central medallion which is etched into the clay.  There is a lizard, rabbit and quail as the design. There is a piece of coral inset in the quail.  Around the shoulder of the bowl is an etched cloud design.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Art & Martha Haungooah”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is an intricate miniature by Wallace Youvella, the husband of Iris Nampeyo  It is fully polished red and the design is a wildlife scene with a deer and mountains.  The seedpot was made between 1976-9.  Wallace was one of the first three men at Hopi in the mid-1970’s to begin making pottery (the others were Mark Tahbo and Thomas Polacca).  Interestingly, Thomas and Wallace (who were brothers-in-law) both started with traditional Hopi-Tewa designs but met resistance from the women potters, so began making pieces which were either fully polished and etched, or carved.  This piece is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is an exceptional miniature by Nancy Youngblood.  This bowl is from 2017.   It is one of her classic deep carved miniature melon bowls. The bowl has thirty-two ribs and each is very deeply carved into the clay in a vertical manner. They are narrow at the base and neck and wider at the shoulder.  Each rib is individually polished.  Nancy has a particular stone which allows her to polish so deeply and the piece has a glassy surface.  She says she can only polish three ribs at a time.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Nancy Youngblood”.  While it may be a small piece, it is certainly spectacular and an iconic work by this renowned artist.

This is a very unusual lidded bowl by Art Cody Haungooah.  There are polished medallions on each side and the clay around them is carved away leaving the medallions raised. The medallion on one side has a moth and the other an ant.  They are each inset with two pieces of turquoise.  The surrounding matte area has been sanded down and works as a perfect contrast to the polished areas.  The lid is also fully polished.  It is strong complement to the polished medallions.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This seedpot is from 1984.  It has two grizzly bear cubs, each etched into the clay in great detail.  Each of the cubs is entranced with the butterflies.  What is so exceptional on this piece is not just the bears and the interaction with the butterflies, but the filigree style etching work surrounding them.  The plants and the feather patterns flow around the piece in a delicate stylistic manner.  It’s always difficult with his work to imagine that Joseph etched the designs into the clay!  There is an additional white clay slip used along with a red clay slip.   The back of the piece has a medallion with a rainbow, which is the yearly symbol for 1984.  The precision of the designs and the shine of the polished surface create a perfect balance.  This piece is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Beginning in the early 1970’s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This intricately designed seedpot has a Mimbres inspired inch worm along the base.  There are three butterflies flying overhead along with flowers in the background.  On the back side of the piece is an incised petal design and incised flowers along with a heart medallion.  This seedpot is from 1986 and it is perfectly polished and he has used a variety of green and white clay slips to create the various colors.  The precision of the designs and the shine of the polished surface create a perfect balance.  This piece is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Nancy Youngblood is known for her swirl melon bowls and carved pottery.  This amazing piece is one of what she calls her “micro-minis”.  It is even smaller than her usual miniatures!  This piece has melon ribs carved into the clay and polished red.  They are in a variety of designs from raindrops on one side, to clouds and almost a heart-shaped design on another.  The ribs are deeply carved and flow around the surface of the piece. The top is matte in contrast to the polished ribs.  Consider that each rib has two “sides” to be polished and the surface area of the piece is about double its size! It may seem small, but it is a gem!  Nancy has won numerous awards for her melon bowls, and this is undoubtedly an amazing example of her skill!

Sylvia Naha was a daughter of Helen “Featherwoman” Naha and a sister of Rainy and Burell Naha.  She was known for her distinctive pieces painted with intricate designs on a white polished clay surface.  Throughout the 1980’s, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were classic in form and amazingly intricate in design.  This is a tall jar and it is painted with the Awatovi Star pattern on the top and bottom.  Under the star are bird wing designs.  The striking feature to this jar are all the finely painted lines!  This style was inspired by the “migration pattern” which Sylvia modified and made more complex with her flow of lines across the surface of the piece.  The black on the painting is from Bee-Weed (a plant) and the red and other colors are natural clay slips.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The jar is signed on the bottom with a feather and an “S”.  It is certainly a striking piece by his exceptional Hopi-Tewa potter!

Helen Gutierrez (1935-1993) was a daughter of Isabel Atencio, a sister of Gilbert Atencio and the mother of Geraldine, Carol and Rose Gutierrez. She was known for her traditional San Ildefonso pottery.  This jar is highly polished and painted with a feather pattern.  The design and style are classic for San Ildefonso.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This polychrome standing turtle is by Margaret & Luther Gutierrez.  Margaret would make the pottery and Luther, her brother, would paint them.  This turtle is carved on the back and the “shell” has seven sections. They have painted bugs, animals, and a human figure.  Typical of their pottery the face of the turtle is quite whimsical with the buck teeth!  The colors are all derived from natural clay slips.  It is signed on the bottom “Margaret/Luther”. The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This plate by Art Cody Haungooah is from 1983-4.  It is polished on the front and fired brown.  There is a hummingbird as the design etched into the clay.  There are additional clay slips added to the piece for more coloration.  It is signed on the back with a fish and, “Haungooah”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

To learn more about Art Cody Haungooah, click the link below:

Art Cody Haungooh: A “Reflected Light” in Pueblo Pottery

This is a classic tall bowl by Santana and Adam!  This piece is very highly polished and perfectly painted with a feather pattern around the shoulder of the piece.  Above the feather pattern is a tightly painted cloud design. The highly polished surface is perfect for the classic design.  It was Julian Martinez, the husband of Maria Martinez, who began painting the feather pattern.  It was inspired by the feather pattern on a piece of Mimbres pottery from the 1100’s.  The style of feather painted by Santana is very distinctive in form.   The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Santana + Adam”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Definitely a classic piece of their pottery.

This is a striking bowl by Gloria Garcia.  It is fully polished and fired black. The bowl has a series of hummingbirds encircling the piece.  They are all going in different directions and highlighted with a red clay slip. The flower are highlighted with a white clay.  Around the rim are plant patterns and a sun design, again highlighted with red.  There is simply a wonderful flow of design on this piece!  It is signed on the bottom, “Golden Rod”.

While Nancy Youngblood is known for her swirl melon bowls and carved pottery, she started out her career making miniatures.  This miniature is from 1975 which makes it a very early piece of her pottery!  It is a miniature kiva bowl and it is fully polished on the inside and the outside.  The edges of the kiva steps are matte in contrast to the highly polished surface.  Note as well the little holes in the sides of the kiva steps.  On larger pieces the holes would be placed in the kiva bowls so that eagle feathers could be attached.  It is amazing that she was able to replicate this concept in miniature!  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Nancy Yellow Aspen ’75”.

Diane Lewis is known for her tightly painted miniature pottery.  This miniature seedpot is intricately painted with a turtle on the top.  The back of the turtle is highlighted with the fine line and checkerboard pattern along with various clay slips.   Diane often combines traditional and contemporary Acoma designs.  All the various colors are natural clay slips.  It is an exciting modern interpretation of classic Acoma imagery.

Sylvia Naha created pieces with the white clay polished surface painted with bee-weed (black) and native clay slips.  Throughout the 1980’s, Sylvia was considered among the most innovative of the Hopi potters.  Her pieces were classic in form and amazingly intricate in design.  This seedpot is a “miniature” version of complicated “shard” pattern pottery.  Half of the seepdot has a lizard and stalk of corn.  The other half is a very intricate pottery shard design. The shards have various images taken from both Sylivas pottery (like the turtle) and traditional Hopi-Tewa pottery.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The seedpot is signed on the bottom with a feather and an “S”.

Grace Chino was a daughter of noted potter Marie Z. Chino and a sister of noted potters Carrie Chino Charlie and Rose Chino. Over the years she won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and her work was featured in the “7 Families in Pueblo Pottery” and in museums around the country.  This small jar has a classic rain and lightning design.  It is painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip.  The jar was traditionally fired and it is signed on the bottom.  It is from the collection of Richard Spivey, known for his books on Maria Martinez.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair but some wear on the rim.