Garcia, Tina – Red Water Jar with Raindrop Rim (1990s)

Tina Garcia was well known for her focus on traditional shapes and plainware Santa Clara pottery. This water jar is one of her classic shapes.  It is an elegant from with a double shoulder or “rainbow ridge”.  There is a rounded shoulder and then the second “shoulder” or rainbow ridge has a sharp edge.  The jar has an elongated neck and a fluted rim, which is also called a “raindrop rim”.  Note how thin she made the rim and that she was able to polish it on both the inside and outside of the neck!  The jar was fired to a glassy red coloration.  As most of Tina’s pottery was plainware, the focus was always on shape and polish, which may be the two most unforgiving aspects of pottery.  A streaky polish or asymmetric form is immediately visible and Tina’s strength in these areas is why here pottery continues to be sought after and remains relevant.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tina Garica”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Brand

Garcia, Tina (1957-2005)

Tina Garcia was a sister of Greg Garcia, Virginia Garcia and John Garcia.  She was a granddaughter of Severa Tafoya.  Tina won numerous awards for her pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Market. She was known for her use of traditional shapes and her exquisite polishing. Her pottery can be found at the Heard Museum, the Denver Art Museum and other museums around the country.