Albert and Josephine Vigil worked together on their pottery. Albert Vigil (1927-2009) was the son of painter Romando Vigil, one of the members of the San Ildefonso School of watercolor artists.  He as also a nephew of Maria Martinez. His wife was Josephine Cordova Vigil (1927-2001) from Taos Pueblo. She moved to San Ildefonso when she married Albert. Josephine learned pottery making by watching her aunts-in-law Maria Martinez and Clara Montoya. Maria taught her how to shape the clay and Clara taught her how to polish.  They began making pottery in 1945.  This  This is a larger piece of their pottery with a wide shoulder and an elongated neck. The jar is painted with a feather pattern which extends down from the neck to the shoulder.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Albert + Josephine”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair

This is a striking very large wide shoulder jar by Mark Tahbo.  The jar is a classic Hopi or Sikytaki shape, with the wide shoulder and a slight neck. The neck is just slightly turned out, which for Mark, it was the little details in his pottery which were important to him.  The shoulder of the jar is painted with an intricate eagle tail design.  Mark would often try and stylize patterns so that they were not just a repetition of previous work.  Here, the tail feathers can be seen in the center of the design, and then the wings extruding outward and mottled.  The jar was painted with bee-weed (black) and then clay slips.  Note that he used a deep red clay, but also a mauve clay slip in the center areas.  It was only around 1998-9 that he began to use the mauve clay, which he found near Hopi.  It was difficult to use and he didn’t have much, so he used it as an accent in his designs.  The jar is traditionally fired and the blushes are simply amazing!  The color variations range from white to orange almost red!  Mark worked diligently to create blushes on the surface of the pottery so that they would almost function as another design element!  The jar is signed on the bottom, “Mark Tahbo” and dated ’99.  The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. The owners of the jar acquired it directly from Mark. Finding pieces of his this size, design and coloration is a great testament to his skill as a potter and painter!

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.

This is a classic bowl by Ramona Gonzales.  Ramona was known for her delicately painted pottery.  This bowl has a cloud and rain pattern painted on the shoulder.  It is a strong graphic image on the bowl.  It was fired a deep black with some areas of gunmetal coloration.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Ramona”.    It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is definitely a classic piece of her pottery!

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

This is a striking larger bowl by Juanita Pena. This bowl is an earlier piece of her pottery.  It is fully polished and painted with a rain design. The little “dots” of rain on the design are definitely a signature of her painting style.  The designs are definitely an unusual one with the geometric flow of pattern from one section to the next.  The bowl is highly polished and fired a deep black.  It is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair.  There are some light surface scratches.   It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Juanita”.  

This is a charming plate by Joe Aguilar.  He began his career painting pottery for his mother, Susana Aguilar,  He also made pottery with his wife, Rosalie, through the 1940’s.  In the 1950’s, after the passing of Rosalie, he created a fascinating group of polychrome pottery including both plates and vessels.  He was one of the few potters at the time still using traditional techniques for the polychrome or black-on-white pottery. This plate is painted with a stylized koshari clown as the design.  Off to the side is a dog sitting, watching the dancer.  It is an unusual design, as koshari are rarely if ever depicted in Pueblo pottery.  I was told that he was part of the clown group and so that is why he was able to paint the clowns on his pottery.  The plate is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair.   It is signed on the back, “Joe Aguilar”.  It is from the Dick Howard collection and his inventory number is still on the back.

For more information on the

Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.

Joe Aguilar began his career painting pottery for his mother, Susana Aguilar,  He also made pottery with his wife, Rosalie, through the 1940’s.  In the 1950’s, after the passing of Rosalie, he created a fascinating group of polychrome pottery including both plates and vessels.  He was one of the few potters at the time still using traditional techniques and designs for his work. This wide bowl is slipped red on the inside and creame on the outside.  It is painted in black with a rain cloud and rain designs. The use of the lines in his design was a signature of his painting.  On this bowl the pattern is repeated four times.  The bowl is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair.   It is signed on the bottom, “Joe Aguilar”.

For more information on the

Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.

Dominguita Sisneros Naranjo is a daughter of noted Ohkay Owingeh potter Tomasita Montoya and a sister of Rosita de Herrera. This bowl is coil built and the top rim is pushed down in an undulating manner.  The top and bottom are fully polished red.  Interestingly, this is either an early piece of her pottery, or she found some of her mother’s old slip, as the red on this piece is the deep red from the earlier Ohkay Owingeh pottery. The body of the bowl is tan polished and incised with a mesa and cloud motif. The incised area is lightly slipped with a micaceous clay.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Dominguita Sisneros”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Tomasita Montoya is one of the early revivalists in San Juan pottery.  She was one of the original seven San Juan potters who revived the art form in the 1930’s.  The Pueblo was renown for their pottery but by about 1890 there were no potters left. In 1930 Regina Cata organized a pottery study group at San Juan Pueblo with the intent of revitalizing pottery production. The group studied ancient potsherds of wares made at San Juan in earlier times and selected Potsuwi‘i Incised Ware (1450-1500) as a basis for a contemporary pottery type.  This jar is one of her classic incised water jars.  The neck and base are both fully polished red.  The center section is incised with a square pattern.  There is just a bit of mica used to highlight the incised designs.  This jar is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tomasita Montoya”.

This unique wedding vase by Art Cody Haungooah has been fired black and then two-toned sienna.  The entire piece is fully polished and the center section of the wedding vase is etched with a varied rain, cloud and wind design around the center.  This design has then been re-heated to make it sienna. Note the deeper etching around the designs, which is typical of his work at this time.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Haungoah”, making it an early piece.  However, it was only in 1973 that Art began making black-and-sienna pottery, dating this piece to 1973.  It is in very 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 Art Cody Haungooah’s unique “two tone” pieces from 1977. There is an area which is polished brown, and the remainder is polished red.  The piece is etched with a rain and geometric pattern on the top.  On the sides, there is a cricket on one side and a bee on the other.  Both are etched in a Mimbres style.  The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Haungooah, 1977”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This miniatures bowl by Art Cody Haungooah has been fired black.  It is etched on the top with an avanyu and a big horn sheep as the design.  The surrounding area of the design has deep linear etching. The bottom is fully polished.  The bowl is signed on the side in the clay.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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.

This is a charming miniature by Joseph Lonewolf  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, “Lone Chipmunk”.  Joseph wrote of this piece:

“Comprising the front side of this minature is a cheerful, alert, sun-loving little animal, a lone chipmunk.  Below the handsome hoarder, at the base, is the symbol of beauty, a tiny butterfly.  Encircling the chipmunk and comprising the back side are designs symbolic of sun rays and the natural habitat (of the chipmunk).

The surface is fully polished red and there are additional black, white, green and blue clay slips added to create the colorations.  The yearly symbol for 1986 is a “heart” which represents love and Lonewolf says, “in particular a deep devotion for the ancestors and Mother Earth”.  The seedpot 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 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 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 a charming jar by Art Cody Haungooah is from 1975.  The jar is fully polished and has design just around the neck of the piece.  The design is a fox out in the lightning and as the jar is turned there is a feather pattern.  The remainder of the jar is highly polished.  Interestingly, the jar is not signed on the bottom, but on the side!  It is signed, “Haungooah, 3-20-75”.  It is in very 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 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.

This is an exceptional piece by multi-media artist Conrad House (1956-2001).  Much like me, you might be familiar with the name “Conrad House”, but not necessarily award of his art.  He was Dine/Oneida and his work was significant in redefining Indian art, utilizing many art mediums to preserve symbols and images of his culture and world cultures. His works are in the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Portland Art Museum, Wheelwright Museum, Heard Museum, Navajo Nation Museum and numerous museums and galleries around the world.  In 2002, the Heard Museum Guild created the “Conrad House Award for the Most Innovative Artist. Winners of the Conrad House Award include Marilou Schultz, Travis Emerson, D. Y. Begay, Polly Rose Folwell, Barbara Teller Ornelas, Marvin Oliver, Pat Pruitt, Jason Garcia, Warren Coriz, Melissa S. Cody, Orlando Dugi, Ryan Lee Smith, Susan Folwell, Berdine Begay, Shan Goshorn, ShoSho Esquiro, and Marlowe Katoney.  In 2006, the University of New Mexico’s Art Museum held a retrospective of his art entitled, “A Life in Balance: The Art of Conrad House”.

This set is what Conrad referred to as a “Sacred Toy”. It is a contemporary version of the historic Zuni Fetish bowl and reflects his “obsession with the duality of daily life”.  Here the jar is made from clay the surface is a metallic glaze, which almost looks like glass.  The fetishes around the outsides are all badgers, except for the one light blue one, which is a pick up truck.  The side of the jar has a hole for “feeding the fetishes”.  Inside the jar is a clay “x” instead of the more traditional cornmeal, which reflects Conrad’s desire to create an “innovative sacred vessel for the future”.  The two prayer sticks are also glazed and each has a bear fetish attached to the stick.  There are tabs on each of the two prayer sticks, which are painted like pottery shards, which are signed and dated, as part of the set.  There is certainly the mixture of the traditional and the modern in this work.  The set is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It was purchased directly from the artist and the more detailed information about the piece itself comes from his sister.

This is a classic round melon bowl by Angela Baca.  It is very deeply carved and each rib is stone polished.  On this bowl, even the space between the 24 individual ribs is fully polished!  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Angela Baca” and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is a classic jar by Maria Martinez.  It was made by Maria Martinez and painted by her daughter-in-law Santana Martinez (the wife of Adam Martinez, Maria’s son).  It is very highly polished and has a glassy surface.  The design is a feather pattern which encircles the shoulder of the jar.  The shape of the bowl has a wide shoulder and a sloping neck. The feather are painted very tightly from the rim to the neck. The bottom of the jar is indented and signed in the clay.   It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  

To learn more about Maria’s signatures, click here.

This is an exceptional large jar by Mark Tahbo. It came from a collector who purchased it directly from Mark. It looked very familiar and when I went though some old photos, I realized I had been at Hopi the day it was fired!  Mark had been firing pieces for Santa Fe Indian Market in1998 and asked me to come up and photograph some of the firings.  At the end of the photos are some photos of this being taken out of the firing! What an amazing coincedence!  It’s no surprise that this jar is thin walled and a great shape.  The entire surface is fully polished. The jar was made in 1998 and it was one of the first times he had deviated from more classic Sikyati designs of Nampeyo and his great-grandmother Grace Chapella.  Here each of the figures around the shoulder has a different katsina mask including the grandmother katsina, hornet, cloud, star, and others.  Note how the mask of each one is different and painted with both red, white and mauve clay slips!  The band closer to the neck has star, bird, corn, raincloud, butterfly and flower patterns.  Again, they are painted with the various clay slips!  The complexity in design and the variations in color are certainly a hallmark of this period of his pottery. The jar was traditionally fired and there are great blushes on the surface. Mark fired his pottery outdoors using sheep dung and the smoke created the intense colorations.  He was always fascinated with the blushes in the clay and worked hard to give his pottery a rich appearance. This jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed and dated on the bottom. 

This is a variation on the classic eagle feather design plate by Maria Martinez and her son, Popovi Da. Maria made and polished the plate while it was painted by her son, Popovi Da  (1923-1971). The plate is highly polished with a deep black shine.  The design has the eagle feathers and the bird wings.  The plate is signed on the back in the clay, “Maria Popovi“. The signature indicates that it was an early piece of their pottery from 1956-9).  The plate is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. I included photos of the plate turned in different directions to show how the shine appears on the piece.

To learn more about Maria’s signatures, click here.

Elva Tewaguna Namepyo, was a daughter of Fannie Nampeyo, a granddaughter of the Nampeyo of Hano and a sister of Iris and Tonita Nampeyo and Thomas Polacca.  Her pottery was coil built, stone polished and painted with bee-weed and natural clay slips. This small bowl is a very traditional design with a batwing pattern.  The piece was traditionally fired to create the blushes on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Her daughter Adelle Nampeyo continues in the same family tradition.

While the pottery of Tony Da has been well documented, it is still exciting to have a piece with such an exceptional provenance.  This gunmetal fired plate is a significant piece in the history of his pottery.  It is one of approximately 6 pieces which he dated during his career.  In 1969 he created a group of plates, of which each was different.  These plates were all dated.  This is the only black and sienna one without a stone, which has a date. The plate was fired a gunmetal silver and then the rim was two-toned to make it sienna.  The design is an antelope, which was etched into the clay before the firing. The antelope style of the design was inspired by the Mimbres pottery of the 1100’s.  While he made other black and sienna plates, this one has a unique historic legacy.  It is signed and dated on the back in the clay, “DA 6 69”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Over the course of a career that spanned from 1967-82, Tony helped change the world of Pueblo pottery.   He was among the first to begin etching into the surface of the pottery (sgraffito), adding stones, hei-shi and then began creating all matte carved vessels.  His pottery today is considered to be among the most sought after by collectors and museum alike.  While he started out as a painter, he made his first pottery in 1967 and his first public showing was at Gallup Ceremonials of that year.

This small bowl by Art Cody Haungooah is from 1974.  The bowl is fully polished and there is a section with the etched design.  Here is a lizard which is inspired by the Mimbres pottery.  The lizard has shell insets for its eyes as well as 6 in the body.  Art used the shell insets as a reflection of new trends in Pueblo pottery at the time, but also as these are little beads, they recall the Kiowa influence of beaded objects.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Haungooah”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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

Tony Da is a name synonymous with innovative pottery and paintings.  However, before he became famous for his pottery he began drawing in the 1960’s.  He was the son of noted potter Popovi Da and the grandson of Maria Martinez.  This is one of about five pen and ink drawings that he did early in his career.  Virtually all the other are in public collections.  This piece is one of his grandmother, Maria Martinez.  The other known pen & ink drawings of Maria are in the permanent collection of the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos.  This piece has an interesting provenance.  It was made in 1966 for the “Three Generations” exhibition in Washington DC.  The exhibition was partially arranged through some collectors in Texas, with whom Maria, Popovi and Tony stayed on their way to DC.  At the end of the exhibition, this drawing of Maria, along with several other pieces, were acquired by their benefactors in Texas.  The painting is signed, “D’a 66”.   It is in excellent condition. What a great piece of history and this piece is certainly an important addition  to any collection of work by Tony Da or San Ildefonso art.

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.

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

Lela Gutierrez began making pottery in the 1930’s with her husband, Van Gutierrez.  After Van passed away in 1956 she continued to make pottery with her son, Luther Gutierrez.  She would make the pieces and Luther would paint the designs.  They worked together for only 10 years from 1956 to 1966.  This open bowl is a later piece of their pottery.  It has a triangular mountain design painted around the shoulder.  Above the mountains are cloud patterns, each with a different design.  “Inside” the mountains are various earth symbols.  All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips and painted onto the piece before it was fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Lela/Luther”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This miniature jar by Camilio Tafoya is from  by Camilio is from 1975. It is etched with a feather pattern around the shoulder.  The neck of the jar has a very lightly etched kiva step pattern.  The kivas are the ceremonial areas which are often below ground and depicted in pottery as a series of three steps. The area below the design is fully polished red.  It is signed on the bottom “Camilio Sunflower Tafoya”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is a striking painted bowl by Ramona Gonzales.  Ramona was known for her delicately painted pottery.  This plate is almost more like an open bowl.  It is fully polished on the front and back. The design has a bird which fills up the entire surface of the plate.  The polished background and matte painted designs work perfectly on this piece.  It is signed on the back in the clay, “Ramona”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is some wear on the surface. This is definitely an important piece of her pottery.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

This wide bowl by Maria Martinez is one of her classic pieces in both shape and design.  It was made by Maria Martinez and painted by her daughter-in-law Santana Martinez (the wife of Adam Martinez, Maria’s son).  It is very highly polished and has a glassy surface.  The design is a feather pattern which encircles the shoulder of the jar.  The shape of the bowl is a very traditional one for Maria.  She would often say that this wide shape was made so the bowl could be easily held in both hands.  The deep black firing and the tightly painted designs using the matte clay work perfectly together.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Maria + Santana”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is one very small rub on the rim, but otherwise the condition is exceptional, which can also be seen from the bottom of the bowl, which has virtually no wear!

To learn more about Maria’s signatures, click here.

Blue Corn is often best known for her polychrome pottery, she also made exquisite black-on-black pottery. She learned to make pottery from Maria Martinez at San Ildefonso. This jar is fully polished and patined with 39 feathers around the shoulder of the piece.  The shape is a classic one for Blue Corn, with the low shoulder and elongated sides.  The contrast of the matte feathers and the highly polished surface works perfectly!  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay “Blue Corn, San Ildefonso”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There are a few light surface scratches seen in the photos.

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.

Dolly Joe Navasie is best known by her name White Swann.  She is the daughter of Eunice “Fawn” Navasie and a sister of Dawn and Fawn Navasie.  This jar is coil built and painted with bee-weed (black) and a red clay slip. The design is a classic eagle tail pattern which extends down from the shoulder.  The jar is traditionally fired to create the blushes.  It is signed on the bottom, “White Swann”.   It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Pauline Talasyousia (Setalla) (b. 1930) married Justin Navasie Setalla.  She was raised in the village of Mishongovi and learned to make pottery from her mother-in-law, Agnes Navasie and her sister-in-law Eunice “Fawn” Navasie.  She had ten children, including Dee Stealla, Agnes Nasonhoya, Gwen Setalla and Stetson Setalla, who are all potters.  This is one of her canteens from the 1970’s.  It is a classic Hopi shape with the round belly.  The design is a bird pattern which is painted on the front of the piece.  The black is bee-weed and the white and red are clay slips. The canteen is flat on the back but it also stands.  It was traditionally fired which created the coloration of the pink and white.  The canteen is in good condition with some fugitive black and a small chip on the back of the lip.  It is signed, “Pauline S.” on the back.

This bowl by Carmel Lewis is certainly inspired by the work of her mother, Lucy Lewis. The bowl has a classic lightning pattern and it is separated by a linear rain design.  The black is painted with bee-weed (a plant).  The bowl is signed on the bottom, “Carmel Lewis”.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This bowl by Fannie Nampeyo is a classic bowl shape.  form.   The design is a black bird migration pattern with the bird in black above the shoulder and the bird tail below the shoulder.  The design has a great flow around the entire piece.  It was traditionally fired creating the striking color variations on the surface.  It’s not often that we see such complex painting on Fannie’s smaller pieces.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. It is signed on the bottom, “Fannie Nampeyo” and it is from the 1960’s.

Tonita Roybal is one of the great innovative names in San Ildefonso pottery.  This is a classic shape with the sharp shoulder.  The sloping area to the neck was painted by her husband, Juan Cruz.  The design is wonderful in the flowing pattern with a cloud design at the top and a water design at the bottom.  However, they are mirror images and the result is a pattern which has a very modern appearance.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tonita + Juan”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

This seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf is from 1984 and it is highly polished and fired red.  The seedpot is inspired by the Mimbres pottery designs.  Here there are two different bees etched into the surface of the clay.  As the seedpot is turned there is the yearly symbol for 1984 on the back. It is meant to represent a bright future.  The seedpot also comes with the original card typed out by Joseph explaining the designs. It is is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

OJoseph Lonewolf is undoubtedly one of the great names in Pueblo pottery for his style of sgraffito pottery with realistic animals and insects.  This unique seedpot is from 1984 and it has two honey bees as the design.  One of the bees even has the pollen on its legs!  It is extraordinary how he is able to capture such realism on a round surface just by etching into the surface of the clay!  The side has the annual yearly symbol for 1984 on the back. It is meant to represent a bright future.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay.  Note as well the “Mimbres Bees” Seedpot by Joseph from the same year.  It is a companion piece to this seedpot, with the bees etched in a Mimbres style while they are realistic on this piece!

The is a classic miniature by Camilio Tafoya. The seedpot is incised with Mimbres inspired hummingbirds as the design.  Note on the top of the piece there is a single Mimbres bee! The seedpot has an unusual form but one which is certainly recognizable as Camilio’s.  There are additional clay slips used to create the various colors.  The seedpot is from 1982 and it is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

The is a complex sgraffito seedpot by Camilio Tafoya. The seedpot was made in 1985 and it is fully etched with designs.  It is very highly polished which creates a striking contrast with the matte and etched areas. The imagery is a deer family encircling the piece.  The top has a cloud and rain design. The green and white are additional clay slips.  The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Tonita Roybal is one of the great innovative names in San Ildefonso pottery.  This is one of her “gunmetal” fired bowl.  The metallic coloration is achieved using a very high fire to heat the bowl and create an intense silver appearance on the surface. This bowl is one of her classic shapes with a sharp shoulder.  The designs are mountain, wind and rain patterns.  Note the delicate lines of the painting on the bowl!  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tonita”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

Tena Garcia is a daughter of Rose Chino  Garcia and a granddaughter of noted potter Marie Z. Chino. This small seedpot has a stylized version of the red and white plant/butterfly design made famous by Marie Z. Chion. The seedpot has a flat for and the design is painted on the top.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The bowl comes to us from the collection of Richard Spivey.

This is a “reclining” turtle Margaret and Luther Gutierrez.  The figure was made by Margaret and painted by her brother, Luther. Typical of their turtles, the face is whimsical. The legs are each painted with intricate designs including a crab and a fish, insects, hunters and birds.  This style of painting one the legs is indicative of their work in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s.  All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom, “Margaret/Luther”.

Blue Corn is certainly one of the most creative potters of her time with a varied used of clays and firing techniques to create her distinctive pottery.  This is one of her distinctive red pieces. The jar is fully polished red and has a feather pattern painted along the body of the piece.  Around the neck is a triangular mountain design. The jar is painted in a buff-on-red style. The highly polished red is in contrast to the matte painted surface.  The jar was traditionally fired to create the coloration.  The jar is signed in the clay on the bottom, “Blue Corn”.   It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is large Kiva Bowl by Margaret Tafoya.  It is from the 1940’s. The bowl is unusual for its size and shape.  The “kiva” is an underground ceremonial room, and there is a ladder out of the top.  The representation of the kiva in Santa Clara pottery is the three step shape carved on the rim of the bowl.  iva bowl are always difficult to make with the carved rim, which can crack in drying as well as in firing.  Adding to the complexity of the bowl is that is fully polished on both the inside and outside!  Amazing that it didn’t crack when polishing, as all the additional wet slip can seep through and cause cracks. The bowl is highly polished and striking in appearance.   It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret Tafoya”.  It is in very excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This is one of her few carved pieces. It is most likely that she made the plate and then it was carved by her daughter, Terasita.  The style of carving is similar to that of her daughter.  The front of the plate is polished red and carved with an avanyu.  The interior carved area is filled in with the a cream colored clay. The back of the plate is also fully polished and it is tan.  The plate is signed on the back in the clay, “Isabel”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  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 Terasita 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.

Tonita Roybal is one of the great innovative names in San Ildefonso pottery.  This is a classic shape for Tonita, with the low, round shoulder and the turned out rim.  What is unusual is the use of the avanyu or water serpent, as the design.  She painted a variety of designs, but very rarely depicted the water serpent on her pottery. The jar here is fired to a near gunmetal finish and it is delicately painted and beautifully polished.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tonita”  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This is an exceptional jar by Isabel Pena.  It is one of the only lidded pieces of hers we have come across.  The jar is painted with a mountain step pattern and the lid is also painted.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  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.

This is a very distinctive bowl by Susana Aguilar.  The piece is from the 1920’s and it is fully polished and fired to a near gunmetal appearance.  The style of her avanyu is very distinctive with the shape of the horn and the way she painted the mouth. The avanyu of her son, Joe Aguilar, is in very much the same style.  The shape of the bowl is also very classic for her work, with thin walls and a very flat top after the curve of the shoulder.  The bottom of the bowl is also fully polished.  It is signed on the bottom  in the clay, “Susana”. The bowl is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It has some scratches on the rim.

Click here to Read more about the “Early San Ildefonso Innovators”.

Isabel Pena was one of the early San Ildefonso potters. This is one of the largest of her black-on-black bowls we have seen. It  has a snow pattern as the design.  It is a complex pattern that encompasses the surface of the jar.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Isabel Pena”.  It is in good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair.  There are a few little rubs and a small chip on the inside of the rim.  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.

This bowl is one of the larger bowls we have had  by Juanita and Wo-Peen Gonzales.  It is carved with the cameo style which Juanita learned from Rose Gonzales.  It has a flowing design on the shoulder with rain and lightning designs separated by mountains.  The carving is deep and perfectly fits the shape of the bowl.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.    The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Juanita”.   It is great to find one of their pieces in such wonderful condition!

Click here to read more about the “Early San Ildefonso Innovators”

Joe Aguilar began his career painting pottery for his mother, Susana Aguilar,  He also made pottery with his wife, Rosalie, through the 1940’s.  In the 1950’s he created a fascinating group of polychrome pottery including both plates and vessels.  He was one of the few potters at the time still using traditional techniques and designs for his work. This is an exceptional plate painted with polychrome designs. The center is a fineline pattern, which was often seen in the earlier black-on-black pottery. The central medallion then becomes a whirling circle of water with the extensions of the plant designs.  The plate is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair. There are two small areas where the white slip has flaked away.  It is signed on the back, “Joe Aguilar”.

For more information on the Early San Ildefonso Innovators, Click Here.

Spoken Through Clay

A NEW  RELEASE SPECIAL:  $95.00, including shipping (US)! Check out the new review in the Denver Post!

 Just a few things which make this book unique!

*   The size!  The book is 11.75″ x 14.25″ and weights over 8 pounds!
*  The photography of the pottery is stunning, emphasizing the individual pieces.
*  Each caption is the artist discussing the individual piece on the page.
*  The artist “biographies” are from interviews with the artists and they discuss their art, culture, lives and history.
*  Organization: The book is not organized by pueblo or family, but entails new ways to think about the future of Native pottery.
*  Printing in Italy gives the book very high quality color and paper.
* The photos of the living artists were taken by Will Wilson using a tin-type process. He was a recipient of the 2107 New Mexico Governor’s Award for the Arts in photography!
*  The book features work by more than 30 contemporary potters and more than a dozen important historic potters.
*  There are essays by myself, Peter Held and Eric Dobkin.  They add to the overall understanding of the project a historic perspective.

_____________________________________________

August 18, Pasatiempo Review

“Charles S. King’s new book, Spoken Through Clay: Native Pottery in the Southwest, The Eric S. Dobkin Collection, is spectacularly heavy —which is a problem from a practical standpoint, because once you open it, you won’t want to put it down. With dreamy tintype artist portraits by Diné photographer Will Wilson, dazzlingly crisp images from Addison Doty, and intimate first-person essays written by dozens of artists, the book is a visually delicious, intellectually consuming foray into historic and contemporary Southwestern pottery. In short, prepare to swoon.

“It’s one of the things that makes us who we are. It’s what holds our family together. We are a family of potters. It’s our identity. People don’t realize how much work goes into it just processing the clay and making it. You have to do it with your heart.”—Linda Tafoya-Sanchez

FEATURED ARTISTS Grace Medicine Flower • Dextra Quotskuyva • Autumn Borts-Medlock • Jody Naranjo • Harrison Begay Jr. • Jordan Roller • Sara Fina Tafoya • Lonnie Vigil • Margaret Tafoya • Steve Lucas • LuAnn Tafoya • Loren Ami • Toni Roller • Popovi Da • Linda Tafoya-Sanchez • Mark Tahbo • James Ebelacker• Yvonne Lucas • Jeff Roller • Lisa Holt • Harlan Reano • Nampeyo • Jacquie Stevens • Nathan Youngblood • Jacob Koopee Jr. • Jennifer Moquino • Christopher Youngblood • Maria Martinez • Tony Da • Tammy Garcia • Virgil Ortiz • Joseph Lonewolf • Johnathan Naranjo • Nancy Youngblood • Les Namingha • Russell Sanchez • Christine McHorse • Richard Zane Smith • Rondina Huma • Susan Folwell • Dominique Toya • Jody Folwell

Spoken Through Clay features the pottery of iconic Native American artists from historic potters Nampeyo and Maria Martinez, to contemporary potters Tammy Garcia, Virgil Ortiz, and many others, are featured in a new book published by the Museum of New Mexico Press. Spoken Through Clay: Native Pottery of the Southwest showcases nearly three hundred pottery vessels from the acclaimed Eric S. Dobkin Collection, covering a wide range of mostly Pueblo artists from the Southwest.

“The physical scale of the vessels combined with the depth of the contemporary collection [is] breathtaking,” says author Charles S. King. The book is part of a “transitional process of looking to the clay, the vessel, and the potter’s voice and allowing the pieces to stand on the merit of their artistic integrity.”

The book includes portraits and voices of renowned potters speaking about their artistry and technique, families, culture, and traditions. Many of the artists are connected by Pueblos, generations, or family members. Dynamic color photography captures the depth and dimension of the pieces, while the artists provide an illuminating perspective through narrative captions. Artists, academics, collectors, family members, and gallerists add additional insight about the lives, historical context, and importance of these potters and their work.

SPOKEN THROUGH CLAY Native Pottery of the Southwest The Eric S. Dobkin Collection
By Charles S. King Essay by Peter Held

Artist portraits by Will Wilson
ISBN: 978-0-89013-624-9

352 pages, 320 color plates, 40 artist portraits

Publication Date: August 01, 2017
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Charles S. King is the author of Born of Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret Tafoya, The Life and Art of Tony Da, Virgil Ortiz: Revolt 1680/2180, and numerous articles on Pueblo pottery. He has served on boards of art associations, judged pottery at prestigious events, and lectures about the art form. His business King Galleries represents many of today’s leading Native potters and important historic works in clay. Charles lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Sarah Garcia (1928-2015) was born at Laguna Pueblo to Maria Trujillo.  However, she spent her adult at Acoma Pueblo.  She, along with Jessie Garcia, Lucy M. Lewis, and Marie Z. Chino, were largely responsible for the revival of Anasazi and Tularosa designs on contemporary Acoma vessels.  Her daughter Goldie Hayah continues making pottery.  This is a classic Acoma jar with very tightly painted fineline patterns.  Note how the fine lines create interlocking patterns.  The bowl is signed on the bottom, “Sarah Garcia”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This miniature seedpot by Ray Tafoya is fully polished.  It has a Mimbres inspired Big Horn Sheep on the top.  It is surrounded by cloud, rain and lightning designs.  There is an inset piece of turquoise placed in the hole or opening for the seedpot.  All the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Note how many of the designs surrounding the Big Horn Sheep are similar to ones used today by his daughter, Jennifer Moquino.  The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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.

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.

This is a very creative mini jar Art Cody Haungooah. It is fully polished and etched on the sides. The jar has the Hero Twins on one side, with the clouds and lightning. The opposite side has the people migrating.  The neck of the jar has additional cloud and rain pattern.  The style of the design accentuates the form with the neck.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Haungooah”, and a flute player, which identifies it as being from 1981.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This large bowl by Art Cody Haungooah is fully polished and etched on the top with a design. The bowl has a sun figure with a headdress and an elongated body which curves around the neck of the bowl. The remainder of the piece is fully polished.  Art made few pieces this size and it striking in its appearance.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Haungooah”, and a flute player.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair but some light surface scratches.

This one of the few plates by Art Cody Haungooah. It is from 1977.  It is probably one of his most famous and also most controversial series when he etched nude figures on his pottery.  This plate has two colors on the front with matte and polished areas. The central design design is a Mimbres inspired antelope.  The back has an avanyu and the back of a nude female.  His etching and handling of the nude subject is not graphic, but was certainly unusual for the time period!  The plate is signed, “Haungooah 1977”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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

 “The ceramicist Maria Poveka Martinez (1887-1980), known to the world as “Maria,” continues, more than two decades after her death, to be the most famous and recognizable Native American artist ever known. Partly it is that her pots, humbly called, are breathtaking works of art no matter the comparison. It is also true that by virtue of her enormously generous spirit and radiant being she managed a kind of approachability that most legends protect themselves against. We feel we know her when her pots have touched us, and out of this exchange something is better in this world.

        The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez is Richard L. Spivey’s masterwork as well, his tribute to a friendship with a great artist that began with Maria’s son Popovi Da and extended to Maria and to many of her family members who joined over the years in the collaborations that brought San Ildefonso ceramic art to the world while reviving its ancient roots for every generation of artist to come.

        Two hundred fine examples of Maria’s pottery are reproduced, many heretofore hidden in private collections and museum storage. Among these are nine magnificent storage jars comprising the entirety of the artist’s production in this form. The author’s long association with the family yields reflections on the artist and her important collaborative relationships with Julian Martinez, their son Popovi Da, and daughter-in-law Santana Martinez. The artistic achievements of Maria and Julian’s descendants document significant developments in Pueblo ceramics at San Ildefonso. Many of grandson Tony Da’s works are assembled for the first time.

All of the pottery types and design motifs are here in the best examples from a career that spanned some seventy productive years, along with their identifying signatures, but it is the container of Maria’s life that holds it all with such heart.”

This is a great book if you want to learn more about Maria Martinez, Popovi Da, Tony Da, Santana & Adam, Barbara Gonzales, Cavan Gonzales and other members of the Martinez Family.

Softcover, 208 pages

In the 1950’s Maria Martinez created a series of pieces which were simply stone polished with no design.  As she primarily made the pottery and polished it this was fitting with the other pieces of her career.  This small plate is fully polished on the front and matte on the back.  It is signed in the clay, “Maria Poveka”.  This is a combination of her Anglo and Tewa names.  Her name, “Poveka” means “Water Lilly”.  The plate is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is an classic jar by Tonita Roybal, from the 1920’s.  What is most distinctive about this jar is the shape, which Tonita originated, with the very sharp shoulder. The entire bowl is fired and the area from the shoulder to the rim is painted.  The design is a bird feather and lightning design.  There is also a very unusual comb-like pattern, which is meant to represent wind and rain.  The bowl has been traditionally fired outside, so there are color variations from gunmetal to brown. There is a small area of black and brown below the shoulder which is most likely from a piece of wood touching the piece during the firing.  It might also be from the Tonita herself touching the piece with some wood, as early potters would often touch the pots with a stick during the firing to give them character.  Either way it is part of the charm of the firing process.  The bowl is from the late 1920’s and signed, “Tonita”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Tse-Pe Gonzales as a son of noted potter Rose Gonzales.  This seedpot is fully polished and fired brown. The design is a central plant pattern with a fish on either side.  The tails of the fish extend out from the circle of the medallion.  There is a single inset piece of turquoise at the top to represent the water.  The back of the piece is fully polished with no design.  The etching is tight and the stippling of the background is a visual signature to Tse-Pe’s technique.  It is signed on the bottom with Tse-Pe’s hallmark. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Tina Garcia was well known for her use of traditional shapes in her pottery.  This is a classic long neck water jar. There is a double shoulder and then a sharp rainbow ridge around the entire piece.  The elongated neck curves in and then out to the rim.  The double shoulder is always technically more difficult to make.  The jar has a wonderful polish and a deep black coloration from the firing.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tina Garcia”  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Teresita Naranjo was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and know for her deeply carved pottery.  This bowl has her stylized avanyu as the design.  The bowl is fully polished red and has the classic cream colored clay in the background.  The avanyu encircles the bowl and the body has cloud and rain designs.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Teresita Naranjo” and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  

This red water jar is a late piece by Popovi Da, as he passed away the same year it was made.  It is a classic water jar and fully polished.  Popovi Da created both plainware and painted vessels.  He was a son of potter, Maria Martinez.  While he worked with her painting designs on her pottery, he also created a few pieces on his own beginning in 1962.  He was planning to continue making pottery on his own after Maria retired but unfortunately passed away before this could occur.  His pottery pieces are definitely a rarity among Pueblo pottery and it is not often that we come across his work.   This jar is signed on the bottom in the clay “Popovi 471” which is the firing date of April, 1971. It is stunning in color and form and certainly a rarity of his work!

This jar by Juanita Gonzales is classic style of their work.  Juanita learned the cameo style of carving from Rose Gonzales.  The neck of the jar is carved with a rain pattern.  The body of the piece has the clay fully carved away to reveal the encircling avanyu.  The style of the avanyu, with the round incised eye, is very similar to that of Rose Gonzales.  The bottom of the jar is matte.  The contrast of the raised polished surfaces and the surrounding matte areas creates a very striking appearance.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Juanita”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Desideria Montoya Sanchez was a sister of noted potter Maria Martinez.  She was known for her traditional pottery and use of both classic and innovative designs. This bowl is painted with a bird wing pattern.  It is interesting that this design has a Hopi-Tewa style appearance to the design.  Many of the early San Ildefonso potters were very interested in the work of Nampeyo of Hano and incorporated Hopi designs into their work.  The imagery was often stylized, such as the feather pattern at the round end of the wing.  The bowl was fired with to a nearly gunmetal appearance.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Desideria”.

This miniature seedpot by Ray Tafoya is fully polished and round in shape.  It has a Mimbres style buffalo on the top.  It is surrounded by arrowhead and wind designs.  All the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.  The eye of the buffalo is also the hole for the seedpot!  Note how many of the designs surrounding the bear are similar to ones used today by his daughter, Jennifer Moquino.  The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This miniature seedpot  by Ray Tafoya is from 1986.  It is fully polished and it is an oval shape.  It has a Mimbres style bear on one side. The other side has a stylized bear paw.  All the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.  Note how many of the designs surrounding the bear are similar to ones used today by his daughter, Jennifer Moquino.  The seedpot is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Regarded as one of the great masters of Pueblo ceramics, Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) is known for her trademark large black polished ceramics, decorated with traditional imagery of rain clouds, water serpents, bear paws, and other symbols. An award-winning artist, she was recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, and a National Heritage Fellowship.
This book is the first complete biography of Margaret Tafoya’s life. It is divided into decades, giving the reader a deeper understanding of her life and pottery over nearly 100 years. It is also the first book to help identify and date her pottery thorough the use of her signatures. There are additional biographies on Virginia Ebelacker, Richard Ebelacker, Lee Tafoya, Linda Tafoya, Jennie Trammel, Mela Youngblood, Nathan Youngblood, Nancy Youngblood, Toni Roller, Jeff Roller, LuAnn Tafoya, Daryl Whitegeese, Mary Ester Archuleta and Shirley Tafoya. The photography of the pottery in this book is exceptional. Personal narratives by family members and family photographs throughout the book create a wonderful sense of her humanity and artistic accomplishments.

This book is now sold out at the publisher as of May, 2018.
Hardcover, 160 pages