Naranjo, Christina – Black Water Jar with Bear Paws (1974)

11"w x 14"h

$ 3,800.00

This jar is an extraordinary large water jar by Christina Naranjo.   Christina was a sister of Margaret Tafoya and Camilio Tafoya, as well as the matriarch of the family of potters including Teresita Naranjo and Tammy Garcia. This water jar shape was considered her “iconic” form, much in the way the double shoulder water jar was the shape associated with Margaret Tafoya.  This large jar has a high, round shoulder and a sloping neck.  It turns out at the rim to create a striking silhouette of form. The jar is fully polished and there are two bear paws as the design.  They are impressed into the clay and polished.  The jar was very highly fired so there is variation in the color to the black.  In over 20 years, I’ve never had one of her jars this size come back into the gallery.  It is easy to see why they were so sought after by collectors in the 1970s!  This jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Christina Naranjo”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Definitely a piece of history and classic of Native pueblo art!