Ortiz, Seferina – Corn Maiden Storyteller with Four Children (1970s)
$ 975.00
Seferina Ortiz was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Virgil Ortiz, Janice Ortiz, Inez Ortiz, and Lisa Holt. This is a classic storyteller by Seferina. The mother is holding four children in her arms and on her legs. It has Seferina’s classic style of face. Each of the children is painted differently. She is wearing a squash blossom necklace. The figure is slipped with white clay and then painted with a red clay slip and wild spinach (black). The piece is signed on the bottom, “Seferina Ortiz”. It was traditionally fired and in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. Definitely a classic figure by this historically important potter!
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Seferina Ortiz was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Virgil Ortiz, Janice Ortiz, Inez Ortiz, and Lisa Holt. This is an ususal piece. It is a Corn Maiden storyteller. The figure has 18 rows of corn kernals in clay on the front. There are four buds of children off the sides. The figure is wrapped in a clay “corn husk”, as are the children. It is a complex and creative piece. She is wearing a squash blossom necklace. The figure is slipped with white clay and then painted with a red clay slip and wild spinach (black). The piece is signed on the bottom, “Seferina Ortiz”. It was traditionally fired and in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. Definitely a classic figure by this historically important potter!
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Ortiz, Seferina (1931-2007)
Seferina Ortiz is certainly one of the great matriarchs of Cochiti Pueblo. She learned to make pottery from her mother, Laurencita Herrera. She is also the matriarch of a family of innovative potters including Virgil Ortiz, Janice Ortiz, and Lisa Holt. Seferina created traditional style Cochiti pottery figures and vessels. Seferina won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.