Garcia, Tammy – Large Jar with Parrots & Melon Swirls (1998)

10.25"w x 9"h

$ 20,000.00

This is an exceptional large jar by Tammy Garcia from 1998.  It is deeply craved with parrots, melon swirls, and cloud patterns.  Tammy said of this piece back in 2003 when it was featured in a museum exhibition and publication:

“When it comes to designing a piece, I reflect on my ancestors who made pottery, and it seems like one of their purposes in designing pottery was to record their history.  You can look at a pot, and it’s almost like a book in the sense that it can tell a story of what was going on during their time.”

She said that the parrots and parrot feathers have long been part of Pueblo culture and regalia.  The design of the parrot here is one sitting on a floral branch below the clouds. The melon swirls are the rainbow and the geometric designs are abstract water symbols.  It’s not just the complexity of the design which is so striking and unique, but the polishing. The stone polished surfaces are stunning and add a depth to the appearance of the piece.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tammy Garcia”.  It is definitely an important piece of her classic pottery art!