Dunlap, Carmelita and Carlos Dunlap – Red Jar with Bird Wings and Cloud Designs (1970s)
$ 1,000.00
This is a creative jar by Carmelita Dunlap and her son Carlos Dunlap. Carmelita would make and polish the pottery while Carlos would paint the designs and fire them to the brown coloration. This piece is a classic wide shoulder jar shape. The jar is polished red and painted with clay for the matte coloration. There are bird wings, clouds, and the bottom is a star pattern. Typical of her work, there is a lot of open space to let the polishing, shine, and simplicity of design each stand on their own. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Carlos Dunlap and Carmelita Dunlap”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
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This is an impressive large jar by Carmelita Dunlap and her son Carlos Dunlap. It is a one the pieces fired to their famous “brown” coloration. The jar is a late collaborative piece, as Carlos passed away in 1981, the same year this jar was made. Carmelita would make and polish the pottery while Carlos would paint the designs and fire them to the brown coloration. This piece is a classic water jar shape. The jar has rain clouds and prayer feathers as the design. The entire piece is fully painted. The contrast of the polished and matte surfaces on the jar is striking, giving the imagery a more dramatic appearance. Typical of her work, there is a lot of open space to let the polishing, shine, and simplicity of design each stand on their own. The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Carlos Dunlap and Carmelita Dunlap”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are some slight areas of wear, which are due to the brown firing, which leaves the pottery a bit underfired and the surface more easily rubbed.
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Dunlap, Carlos (1958 - 1981)
Carlos Dunlap was a son of Carmelita Dunlap. He was a brother to Jeannie Dunlap, Cynthia Dunlap, Linda Dunlap, and Martha Appleaf Fender. Carmelita was a daughter of Juanita Vigil, the youngest sister of Maria Martinez. Carlos learned to make pottery from his mother. He created very large vessels in colorations that ranged from black to polychrome and a distinctive brown. However, it was his painting which remains so spectacular as it was very open and varied in style. Dunlap, Carmelita (1925 - 2000)
Carmelita Dunlap was a daughter Juanita Vigil and raised by Desideria Sanchez, both sisters of Maria Martinez. She learned to make pottery from her aunts and began making her distinctive vessels in 1955. She was known not only for her complicated designs but the large size of her pottery. She is also the matriarch of a family of potters including children Martha Appleleaf, Carlos Dunlap, Cynthia Star Flower and grandson Erik Fender. Carmelita won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market and Gallup Ceremonials. Her pottery can be found in museums across the country including the NMAI and the Denver Art Museum.