WOW! This is a massive jar by Mary Ester Archuleta.  She is the second youngest daughter of Margaret Tafoya.  She has never made a lot of pottery, and most of it was created in the 1970s and 1980s. This is an exceptional piece that is from the early 1970s.  The jar is coil-built and has nearly straight sides.  This particular form creates a lot of space for design.  The top and bottom band are both polished red. The central band is carved with large butterflies that are also polished red.  The background area is the classic white clay slip.  The jar was traditionally fired, giving the red a deep, rich coloration.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Mary Archuleta.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It’s amazing to see a piece of her work at this size, which such deep carving and creativity in design. 

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Archuleta, Mary Ester (b. 1942)

Mary Ester Archuleta

Mary Ester Archuleta is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and a sister of renown potters Shirley Tafoya, Mela Youngblood, LuAnn Tafoya and Toni Roller. While growing up in Santa Clara, she married and moved to San Juan Pueblo in the 1960's. She was pivotal in the revival of San Juan incised pottery in the early 1970's and is one of the few potters who can stone polish the tan coloration on her pottery with such a high shine. Mary has never been a prolific potter and rarely made large vessels. While Mary no longer makes much pottery, she has won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and has been written about in various books including, "Born of Fire."