Lonewolf, Joseph – Red and Green”Mimbres Tick” (1974) Published “Pottery Jewels”
$ 1,800.00
Joseph Lonewolf began making pottery in 1970-1. This is a classic piece of his pottery from 1974. It is etched a Mimbres insect as the main design. Below the insect is a sand design. Emanating outward are incised lines. What is most unusual is that the background area is slipped with green clay, which was very innovative at the time. The remainder of the piece is fully polished red. This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf”. This piece is published in the book, “Pottery Jewels” which has a stunning collection of Joseph’s pottery in the early 1970s.
Joseph wrote of this piece:
Mimbres Tick: The Mimbres tick is an ancient design and the scroll around the edges shows the ability of the tick to fasten itself tightly to any object.
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Joseph Lonewolf began making pottery in 1970-1. This is a classic piece of his pottery from 1974. It is etched with a Big Horn Sheep as the design. It is realistic in style. He used an additional white clay to accentuate the detail on the fur. To one side of the Big Horn is a stylized Dance Fan. Behind the Big Horn, the matte area is etched rounded lines emanating outwards. They are rounded out and make the polished area stand out! The back is fully polished. Joseph once said of his pottery:
“When I work the clay, everything flows. Some people wonder why I keep changing styles, colors, forms. But I can’t just sit there and make pots. Like any artist, I must try different things, different techniques. I must meet the challenge with my hands. The patterns and the methods I see in my mind during my dreams.” —Jospeh Lonewolf (1974), Spoken Through Clay
This piece is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf”.
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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.