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 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.

This is certainly one of the most exceptional pieces we have seen 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 unique piece is a terraced bowl. The mountain steps are on one side and the center of the bowl is meant to represent the lake below the mountains. There are two avanyu painted along the interior sides of the bowl.  The bowl was traditionally fired and there is a slight dark cast to the cream colored clay due to the smoke in the firing. The interesting part of the firing, however, is that on the bottom you can see fingerprints of where he handled the bowl before it was fired!  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.

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 seedpot by Art Cody Haungooah is from 1978.  It is polished red on the bottom and polished on the top with a bluish-gray clay.  The top is etched with a feather design. The clay coloration is unusual and one of the signatures of Art’s pottery style is he deviation from the traditional colors and designs of Santa Clara pottery.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent 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.

This is a classic stylized seedpot by Art Cody Haungooah.  It is fully polished and etched in his signature “asymmetrical’ manner, meaning there are two medallions but they are not on opposite side, and there is a section which is just plain.  In one of the medallions, there are four frogs and a central lily pad.  They are surrounded by a feather pattern.  The second medallion also has a circle of feathers and in the center is a stylized bird.  Separating the two is a design with three prayer feathers.  The piece is from 1981 when he signed his work with his name and a flute player.  The piece is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.r 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 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

Denny Gutierrez was known for his faceted melon bowls. As opposed to carving them, he would flatten out each rib out to create a “faceted” appearance.  The result was a reflective surface and a very striking piece of pottery.  This jar has 32 melon ribs which are straight at the shoulder and then swirl below the shoulder.  The area above the melon ribs is polished and the lid is also fully polished.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Denny Gutierrez Santa Clara 06”.  It is in very good 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 a classic bowl by Santana and Adam Martinez.  The piece is very highly polished and perfectly painted with classic mountain and lightning design.  The bowl is traditionally fired with areas of gunmetal coloration to the surface.  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!

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.

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 wide shape bowl is a very traditional form for Hopi-Tewa pottery.  This design, the bat wing pattern, is one which was revived by Nampeyo of Hano.   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.

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 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 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

The is a small but intricate seedpot by Camilio Tafoya. The seedpot was made in 1980’s and it is fully etched with designs.  It is polished red and the top is etched with a star pattern and four rabbits.  Rabbits were a them often used by Camilio on his pottery.  The bottom of the seedpot has a water design.  The various colors of green and white are from natural clay slips. The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent 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

This miniature bowl by Dextra Quotskuyva was made in 1976.  Dextra is certainly one of the great innovators among Hopi-Tewa potters.  Her work began with more classic imagery and then has evolved over the years to more unique and stylized designs.  The bowl has the classic bat wing design painted on the surface in four sections.  Each of the wings is very tightly painted with Dextra’s fineline work.  The bowl was traditionally fired so that there are blushes and color variations around the surface.  It is signed on the bottom with bee-weed, “Detra” with an ear of corn representing the Corn Clan.   The jar is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Dextra has been the subject of a retrospective of her pottery at the Museum of Indian Art and Culture called, “Painted Perfection“.

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”.

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.

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 tall jar is a shape that was used by both her and Maria during the 1920’s.  It is a tall shaped jar with a high shoulder.  The jar here is highly polished and has a cloud design painted around the neck and then additional rain and wind designs around the shoulder.  The painted designs here are so bold that they give a very modernistic appearance to the jar. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Desideria”.

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

This is a large bowl by Maximiliana “Anna” Martinez, who was a sister of Maria Martinez.   It is fully polished and painted with water designs around the shoulder. The bowl itself has great coloration with areas which are nearly gunmetal.  The painting is fluid around the entire piece.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Anna”.

Early San Ildefonso Pottery Innovators -1920-1940

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”.

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”

Florence Naranjo is a daughter of noted potters Rosalie & Joe Aguilar and a granddaughter of Susana Aguilar.  This is one of her few polychrome pieces of pottery. The jar is fully painted with black and red rain, cloud and snow patterns on a cream background.  The jar is a classic San Ildefonso water jar shape.  It is signed on the bottom, “Florence Naranjo”.  It is good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Click here to learn 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.

This is a charming open bowl by Tonita Roybal, from the 1920’s.  It is either a small plate or a small dish.  It is oval and has a slight rim.  The bowl is painted on the inside with a lightning and cloud pattern.  The piece is polished which creates a strong contrast for the design.  The bowl is signed on the back in the clay, “Tonita”.  It is in very good condition with no cracks, restoration or repair. There are few tiny dings on the rim.  Amazingly, the center of the piece is in excellent condition!

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.

Rose Gonzales is often considered the first at San Ildefonso Pueblo to make carved pottery. However, over the course of her career she created a variety of styles including plainware, painted and carved pottery. This wedding vase is from the 1960’s. It is painted with a plant design on two sides and a very intricate mountain design on the sides.  Note the use of the linear lines for the mountain!  The wedding vase is fully polished it is not often that we see a wedding vase by Rose.  This piece is signed on the bottom in the clay “Rose”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There are some scratches near the base of the piece.   Rose’s legacy an certainly be seen in the work of Tse-Pe, Dora Tse-Pe and Russell Sanchez.

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

Anita Martinez was a granddaughter of Maria Martinez and a daughter of Santana & Adam Martinez.  This is a classic bowl of hers which is highly polished. It has been fired with sections which have a gunmetal appearance.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Anita Martinez”.

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.

This bowl is by Juanita and Wo-Peen Gonzales.  It is carved with the cameo style which Juanita learned from Rose Gonzales.  It has a complicated design with rain and cloud patterns encircling the bowl.  It is beautifully polished and has deep black coloration.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and some wear near the base.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Juanita Wo-Peen”.   It is great to find one of their pieces in such wonderful condition!

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

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.  

Pasqualita Tafoya was the sister of noted potter SaraFina Tafoya and the matriarch of a family of renowned potters.  Her early pottery are primarily carved vessels with some unusual styles of carved patterns.  This is a larger bowl of her pottery with a carved avanyu encircling the piece.  The avanyu (water serpent) is deeply carved into the clay and the surface is fully polished.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Pascualita”.  Interestingly, there are numerous variations on the spelling of her name depending on the time period when they were made.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is nice to see a larger piece of her pottery with such a classic design.

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”.

During the 1950’s Maria Martinez made and polished pottery and signed using her Tewa name, “Maria Poveka”.  Poveka means “Water Lilly”.  This bowl is beautifully formed and polished.  It has a very deep black fired appearance and a very glossy shine.  It is signed in the clay on the bottom, “Maria Poveka”.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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

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