Tahbo, Mark – Plainware Water Jar with Fire Clouds (1998)
$ 600.00
Mark Tahbo was known not just for his painted pottery, but especially for the blushes on his pottery from the firing. This jar is from 1998. It is one of his first plainware pieces and it is fully polished. The jar has a round body and an elongated neck. It is fully polished in a vertical or “onion skin” polish. The polishing was important, as it would show up in the firing and the blushes. It was then fired outdoors to create the blushes and coloration. Mark was masterful at firing and always wanted to achieve dramatic blushes on the surface of his pottery. When they turned out with variations like on this jar, from white to deep orange, he was the most pleased. Mark told me about his plainware pottery:
“My first plainware pieces were done years ago. I was sure that these would be well received and gallery owner Charles King took a chance with them. They were an immediate hit! I don’t do very much plainware for it has to be flawless. The surface has to be free of all dips or air holes and the shape has to be elegant on its own, as there is no design to distract the eye. The colors achieved on the pots are truly amazing. Each piece is fired outdoors using sheep dung and coals. I love it!”
The jar is signed on the bottom “Mark Tahbo” and a pipe for Tobacco Clan. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Definitely a classic of his pottery!
Out of stock
Mark Tahbo was known not just for his painted pottery, but especially for the blushes on his pottery from the firing. This jar is from 1999. It is one of his larger plainware pieces and it is fully polished on the outside in a swirl manner. The swirl polishing was important, as it would show up in the firing and the blushes. The jar is also polished inside as far as Mark could reach inside the jar. It was then fired outdoors to create the blushes and coloration. Mark was masterful at firing and always wanted to achieve dramatic blushes on the surface of his pottery. When they turned out with variations like on this jar, from white to deep orange, he was the most pleased. Mark told me about his plainware pottery:
“My first plainware pieces were done years ago. I was sure that these would be well received and gallery owner Charles King took a chance with them. They were an immediate hit! I don’t do very much plainware for it has to be flawless. The surface has to be free of all dips or air holes and the shape has to be elegant on its own, as there is no design to distract the eye. The colors achieved on the pots are truly amazing. Each piece is fired outdoors using sheep dung and coals. I love it!”
The jar is signed on the bottom “Mark Tahbo”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Definitely a classic of his pottery!
Brand
Tahbo, Mark (1958-2017)
Mark Tahbo
Mark Tahbo was a Hopi-Tewa member of the Tobacco Clan. He had been an active potter since 1978. He learned to make pottery from his great-grandmother, Grace Chapella. His sisters Diana and Pam were also potters. Mark was influential in the early 1990s in recognizing Hopi pottery's traditional firing and keeping it as a practice among Hopi-Tewa.
Mark had won numerous awards for his pottery at Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Indian Market, and Gallup Ceremonials. In 1991, he won the Overall Prize at Santa Fe Indian Market. In 1992 he was awarded Best of Division at the Heard Museum Indian Fair. Awards continued to be presented to him in 1993 and 1994. His pottery is featured in books such as "Talking with the Clay" and "Collecting Authentic Indian Art." He is remembered as one of the exceptional traditional innovators of Hopi pottery. His pieces reflect the remarkable symmetry and thin walls of an excellent potter. The designs are painted using native clay slips and beeweed plants for the black.
Sadly, Mark passed away in December 2017. We were lucky to work with him at King Galleries for over 20 years. His creativity and artistic genius will be missed.