This large bowl by Robert Tenorio has an open interior and is fully painted.  The bowl is slipped with white clay and then painted with bee-weed (black) and red clay at the bottom. The interior of the bowl has a Big Horn Sheep in the center.  It is surrounded by spiraling mountains.  There are Big Horn Sheep tracks around the inner edge and then red painted clouds near the rim.  The exterior of the bowl has geometric sun patterns.  Below them are plant designs.  It is interesting how Robert painted very traditional Santo Domino pottery designs on the outside while the interior has his more creative designs.  It creates visual story of the Pueblo’s pottery history.  It is tightly painted and complex in design.  The bowl was traditionally fired outdoors.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Robert Tenorio, Kewa”.  It was made in 1995.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

Brand

Tenorio, Robert (b. 1950)

 

Robert Tenorio

Robert Tenorio is one of the most famous Kewa (Santo Domingo) potters working today. He learned to make pottery from his grandmother Andrea Ortiz and Lupe Tenorio his great-aunt. He also studied under Otellie Loloma when he went to school at IAIA. He creates classic Santo Domingo forms along with some his own stylistic patterns and shapes. Robert has won numerous awards for his pottery and his pottery is found in museums across the United States.