Cordero, Helen – “Hide and Seek” Child and Owl (1970s)
$ 700.00
This is a charming pair of pieces by Helen Cordero. There is a child and an owl. The child is covering his eyes, maybe playing hide-and-seek with the owl! Owls are a part of Cochiti figurative pottery, and so maybe that is why Helen decided on an owl versus a dog or cat. The owl is painted with feathers. Note the detail on the child’s shirt, especially on the back of the shirt! They are painted with wild spinach (black) and red clay on white clay. They are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. There is a bit of missing white slip on the tail of the owl. Each is signed, “Helen Cordero”.
Helen Cordero is undoubtedly one of the great names in Cochiti pottery. It was in 1964 that Cordero said she made her first storyteller. According to her, “I made some more of my Storytellers with lots of children climbing on him to listen, then I took them up to the Santo Domingo Feast Day,” and the rest is history. Her pieces were all male, to honor her grandfather, whom she would hear telling children stories of Pueblo life and culture. She received the New Mexico Governor’s award in 1982 and the NEA Heritage Fellowship in 1986.
In stock
This is definitely one of the most unusual and interesting pieces we have had by Helen Cordero. It is a clay wall scone with an area that would hold cornmeal or corn pollen. Typically, these are placed near the front door of a house and hung on a wall. The piece has a flat back and there are two children in relief on the front. On the background there is a classic raincloud design over the mountains. The area below the two children has a more realistic cloud pattern with lighting. The two children are each detailed in their shirts and are looking into the open area of the sconce! The piece was traditionally fired to create the color variation on the surface. This is a piece that combines history and culture together in something that is definitley unique and creative! The piece is signed on the back “Helen Cordero”. It is painted with wild spinach (black) and red clay on white clay. It is in nearly excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Helen Cordero is undoubtedly one of the great names in Cochiti pottery. It was in 1964 that Cordero said she made her first storyteller. According to her, “I made some more of my Storytellers with lots of children climbing on him to listen, then I took them up to the Santo Domingo Feast Day” and the rest is history. Her pieces were all males, to honor her grandfather, whom she would hear telling children stories of Pueblo life and culture. She received the New Mexico Governor’s award in 1982 and the NEA Heritage Fellowship in 1986.
Helen Cordero