Lonewolf, Joseph – Black-and-Red Jar with Clouds and Bear Lid (1972)
$ 4,400.00
Joseph Lonewolf began making pottery in 1970-1. His bear lidded vessels, which he only created for a few years, might be among his most iconic in style. This jar has a sharp shoulder and a sloping neck. The neck has an incised mountain design. Below are swirling clouds and feather designs. This is one of his larger black-and-red fired bear lidded jars. The firing is one where he created a “red and black” coloration at the end of the firing process before the manure was added to turn the piece black. Note the background area with the deeply incised swirling lines. The jar has a bear lid with a fetish bundle of turquoise and coral. It is an exceptional piece in design and form. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. Definitely a classic of Joseph’s early pottery style!
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Joseph Lonewolf began making pottery in 1970-1. His bear lidded vessels, which he only created for a few years, might be among his most iconic in style. This jar has a sharp shoulder and an elongated neck. It is etched with an avanyu or feathered water serpent, encircling the piece. The body of the avanyu (water serpent) is very complex in design. The matte area surrounding the avanyu is incised with swirling lines. The lid has a bear with a fetish bundle of turquoise and coral.mmIt is an exceptional piece in design and form. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. Definitely a classic of Joseph’s early pottery style!
Brand
Lonewolf, Joseph (1932-2014)
Joseph Lonewolf
Joseph Lonewolf was a son of noted potters Camilio and Agapita Tafoya and the brother of Grace Medicine Flower. In the early 1970s, Joseph revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs in his work.
When Joseph and his family gather clay, they do it with the utmost respect. Before the clay can be taken from Mother Earth, they must say a prayer, asking to take the clay and tell the clay mother that they will take her and make her into a beautiful pot. The clay is brought home, and water is added to turn the clay into a liquid form known as slip. The slip is then strained to take out any rocks or debris, and then the clay can be dried, kneaded, and used.
Joseph was awarded numerous awards throughout his career, and his work can be found in museums worldwide. He has been featured in multiple books, including "The Art of Clay." He received the prestigious New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2009 and the SWAIA Lifetime Achievement Award.