It is always great to see an important vessel by Margaret Tafoya, with great provenance, come become available.  This  tall red red jar is featured on p. 111 of the book, “Born of Fire”. The jar is from the 1980’s, after he had won “Best of Show” at Santa Fe Indian Market in 1978 and 1979.  In her later work, Margaret made smaller pieces than earlier in her career and also more redware.  The classic jar has a tall shape with four impressed bear paws as the design.  They are carved into the clay and then the entire piece is fully polished and it is fired a deep red.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay “Margaret Tafoya”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  This is definitely a historically important and exceptional jar by this important Santa Clara potter and great to have it published in one of the definitive books on her career.