Damacia Cordero (1905-1989) began making pottery around 1920. She was a daughter of Lucinda Suina and the second wife of Santiago Cordero. She was the mother of Josephine Arquero, Gloria Herrera, Marie Laweka, and Martha Arquero.  While we have had many of her animals come through the gallery this is one of the largest and most complex in terms of design.  It is a lizard that is coil built so it is hollow. It is slipped with white kaolin clay and painted with bee-weed (a plant). The design is more complex than many of her pieces with a checkerboard pattern for the back.  The piece was traditionally fired which created the color variations on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom, “Damacia Cordero”.  There is a very lightly written “1984” next to her name, which may be the indication of when this piece was either made or purchased.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Definitely an exceptional piece by this historically important potter!  This piece includes a copy of “Clay Mirror” which is certainly one of the most important books on contemporary Cochiti pottery!