Red Starr (Sioux) was married to Santa Clara potter Harriet Tafoya and learned to make Santa Clara pottery.  This is one of his few fully polished and designed clay bears.  The bear is fully polished and it was fired black.  On the sides are large etched bear paws, each with an inset piece of turquoise.  The back has a plant design with inset coral. The eyes of the bear are inset coral and there is a white piece in the front with an etched bear.  Around the neck are inset turquoise and shell hei-shi beads.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the leg in the clay, “Red Starr”.

Brand

Red Starr, Elmer (1937-2018)

Elmer Red Starr

Elmer Red Starr (1937-2018) was a Sioux potter who was married to Harriet Tafoya (a sister of Annie Baca) of Santa Clara Pueblo and learned to make pottery from her. Each piece of his pottery is highly polished and intricately incised, typically with animal motifs. He began making pottery in the 1980's.