Rita Banada Lewis of Cochiti Pueblo was married to Ivan Lewis, a son of Lucy Lewis. Rita began making pottery in 1959 and was taught by her mother.  This nativity or “naciamento” set was made by Rita in the 1980s.  There are eight pieces, including Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, an angel, one of the Wise Men holding a piece of pottery, a cow, a sheep, and a donkey.  It is made with native clay and white Cochiti clay slip, painted with bee-weed (black), red clay slip, and traditionally fired.  Each piece is very detailed in the painted designs.  Note the complexity on the back of each figure, the shawls, and the belts!  Each of the figures is wonderfully painted.    All the pieces are in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Each is signed on the bottom, “Rita Lewis”.The sheep was made and signed by Mary Trujillo.