The is a striking long neck jar from LuAnn Tafoya.  She is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and learned to make large vessels from her mother.  This jar is coil built, stone polished, and traditionally fired. The top and bottom areas are polished to a high shine. The central band is carved with kiva steps and rain. The designs are precise and after the carving, that area is stone polished.  The jar has a stunning coloration from the firing, with a nearly metallic appearance.  LuAnn traditionally fires her pottery outdoors.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “LuAnn Tafoya”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

“When I was twelve, I remember one Saturday morning my mom said, “We are going to polish today.” I looked at her, and I said, “Polish today? I’ve never polished a pot.” She put up a table, and I sat on one side and she sat on the other side. She started putting the clay slip on some small pieces. As soon as it was ready for me to polish, she would hand me the small pot. She kept putting the slip onto six small bowls. It was like a rotation of working on it. After she put the slip on then I would start polishing, so we keep on going. That’s where I remember starting to work on the pots.”  LuAnn Tafoya, Spoken Through Clay