Tafoya, Camilio – Large Seedpot with 27 Birds and Avanyu (1979)

5.25"w x 2.5"h

$ 900.00

This is a large seedpot by Camilio Tafoya.  It was made in in1979.  The seedpot is coil-built and fully polished, even the bottom!  He etched 27 birds into the clay. The area around them is matte red and he has more deeply etched into the clay to create clouds.  They encompass about 2/3 of the top of the seedpot. The remainder is a feather and rain design. The bottom of the seedpot has a feathered water serpent (avanyu) which is the style of Camilio’s family.  Camilio first began making larger carved pottery like his sister, Margaret Tafoya.  In the 1970s he began making pieces on his own when he was living with his daughter Grace Medicine Flower.  All of the etching on his pieces was done before they were fired so that he was able to get the smooth tan coloration in the background.  The piece is signed on the bottom “Camilio Sunflower Tafoya”. It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.