$ 1,400.00
This colorful seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf is from 1994. The piece is one of his few black-fired pieces. It is fully polished and fully designed. There is a Mimbres butterfly on the top, an Inchworm, two bees, a cricket, and a grasshopper. They are each delicately etched into the clay and then highlighted with over seven different colors of clay! This is definitely one of his more colorful black pieces! Near the base, there is a small butterfly along with the yearly symbol. It is a more complex design with more figures and lots of coloration. All the colors are from natural clay slips he would find. It is signed on the bottom, “Joseph Lonewolf”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.
Deciphered: The Yearly Symbols of Joseph Lonewolf
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.
Artist Media Series
Contemporary
Historic
