This is a large bowl by Franklin Peters.  He is known for his thin-walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The bowl is coil built with native clay and painted with native slips. The design is a classic Acoma pattern with rain and cloud designs.  Note the very thinly painted fine-line designs. The rim of the jar has an extra coil which he has then corrugated. Look closely and you can see the three small indentions as the top of each of the semi-circles.  Franklin said that he carved a piece of wood with the three indentions to use for making the rim of the bowl. They are to represent the rain coming down at sunset. It is signed on the bottom.

Thomas Tenorio is from the Aguilar family of Kewa Pueblo.  Amazingly, he taught himself to make pottery!  This is one of his large jar with an elegant shape.  There is a wide shoulder.  The jar is painted with very classic rain designs around the top and sun circles in the center. The style of the painting is very much in the style of the Aguilar sisters from the early 1900’s.  The large black areas with the white clay background and the red slip lines give the jar a very modernistic appearance.  The jar has a spirit line, or a space in the painting on the rim, which is seen in traditional Kewa pottery.  The piece is signed on the bottom.  It is from 2012 and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Thomas Tenorio is from the Aguilar family of Kewa Pueblo.  Amazingly, he taught himself to make pottery!  This is a classic water jar with a round body and a turned out rim. The jar is painted with a red clay slip along with the black.  The area above the shoulder has the rounded flower petals.  Below the shoulder are the circular sun designs.  The jar is striking in appearance with the contrasting red and black coloration against the white clay slip.  The rim of the jar has a spirit line, or a space in the painting on the rim, which is seen in traditional Kewa pottery.  The piece is signed on the bottom.  It is from 2012 and it is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

This is an original clay piece by Roxanne Swentzell.  She is well known for her clay masks and their unique expressiveness.  This mask has two hand prints painted on the sides of the face. There is a very serene appearance.  The mask has a metal museum mount stand made for it.  It is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed in the clay, “ROX”.

Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano make an amazing team, working to create innovative pottery using traditional techniques.  Lisa makes the pottery and it is painted by Harlan.  Each piece is painted with native clays (red, white) while the black is wild spinach (a plant).  They are also traditionally fired.  This water jar is an elegant shape with the high shoulder and elongated neck.  The piece is fully painted with a very complex and elaborate design!  The imagery is based on the wild spinach plant, used for the black paint on the pottery.  This plant design can be see around the shoulder and near the base of the jar.  There are additional plant and lightning motifs around the surface.  It’s exciting to see such a fully designed jar and with such amazing intricacy of patterns! Lisa and Harlan have won numerous awards over the years.  This jar is signed on the bottom.

This is very large bowl by Arthur and Hilda Coriz.  Hilda would coil build each piece and then they would be painted by Arthur. The painting was done with natural clay slips (white and red) and then wild spinach (black).  This striking large jar is painted with a classic Kewa (Santo Domingo) plant design encircling the piece.  Arthur alternated the direction the plants, giving the jar a more dramatic appearance.  The lower section is polished red and note on the base that the initial coils seem visible.  There is a “spirit line” or break in the painted design on the rim, which then extends down through the entire design!  This goes back to historic Kewa pottery when the artist would use the spirit line to release their spirit or connection from the vessel.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay. The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is not often that we see their pottery and especially with the use of such classic designs!

Charmae Natseway is known for her exceptionally painted pottery and use of distinctive forms. This is one of her larger traditional seedpots.  The central design is a classic fine-line star pattern.  Surrounding the central star are four different Acoma style  birds.  Each of the birds are classic images seen on historic Acoma pottery.  They are surrounded by plant and flower motifs.  Charmae is both an exceptional potter and also among the best Acoma painters.  The fine lines and precision of her imagery is always a perfect match of form and design.

This is a traditional ladle or spoon by Preston Duwyenie.  It is made from a red clay found near Hopi.  The entire piece is fully polished. There is an inset piece of silver on the handle. The silver is meant to represent the shifting sands found in the areas around Hopi.  The silver is cast against cuttle-fish bone (a type of squid).  The silver is inset after the firing and there is a design etched on both ends.  The ladle is signed on the back in the clay with Preston’s hallmark which is a woman carrying a child.  Preston is from Third Mesa at Hopi, and taught ceramics for years at Institute of American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe.

Jamie Peynetsa is the son of noted potters Anderson and Avelia Peynetsa.  Avelia, his mother, coil builds the clay vessel.  Jamie paints the design.  He has a strong attention to the detail of the painting as well as his inspiration from classic Zuni pottery.  This jar is very tightly painted with rain designs above the shoulder.  The thin lines are even and add complexity to the piece.  The sides of the jar are boldly painted with lightning patterns.  Note how well Jamie paints to match design and form.  It is signed by Jamie and his mother on the bottom.  At only 20 years old, he certainly has a great future in pottery!

Agnes Nahsonhoya is a daughter of noted potter Pauline Setalla and a niece of Eunice “Fawn” Navasie. She is also the sister of Dee Setalla and Stetson Setalla. She learned to make pottery from her mother and her aunt. Her pieces are signed her name and also a bear paw, as she is bear clan.  This seedpot is coil built and carved with a bird circling the side and top of the piece.  The sections of the bird are carved into the clay and consist of rain and cloud patterns.  The head of the bird sprials onto the top of the piece.  It is signed on the bottom.

This miniatures bowl by Art Cody Haungooah has been fired black and then two-toned on the neck.  The top part is etched with cloud and stylized bird designs. You can see the eye (the black dot) of one of the birds.  They are surrounded by rain and wind designs.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Shana Garcia is known for her creative shaped and sculptural rim pottery.   Each piece is coil built and painted with yucca to create the long thin lines.  This tall jar has a lightning design which spirals up to the rim. The rim is sculpted with additional clay to create the bird wing pattern and additional yucca and rain patterns.  Shana said the shape of the rim is meant to represent the birds over the kivas.  It is striking how she is able to combine such traditional imagery with such a modern appearance!

This is an exceptional jar by Paul Naranjo.  It is fully polished to a glassy surface.  Honestly, one of the toughest pieces to photograph!  However, the polish is amazing and the entire surface of the jar is fully polished!  There are two maidens in traditional dress and they are separated by an eagle head.  There is a water serpent in the background, which is a designs often used by Paul on the background of his pieces.  Along the neck and the base are kiva step designs, and there are plant patterns around the base as well.  Paul fired his pottery a dark, chocolate color, for which he was well known. His pieces can be seen in the “Beyond Traditions” book by Jerry Jacka.  The jar has unique color variations in the brown which further enhance the designs.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  The jar also won a ribbon at the 1987 Gallup Ceremonials, which adds to its important provenance.

This is a very intricately painted jar by Franklin Peters.  He is known for his thin walled pottery and use of traditional Acoma imagery on his pottery. The jar is coil built with native clay and painted with native slips. The design has a star pattern in each of the central medallions.  There is a cloud band above and below and small plant designs. The fully painted design is inspired by classic Laguna pottery but has a very modern appearance. The base and inside rim are painted red. The jar has an indented base which is reminiscent of historic Acoma pottery when water jars were made to be carried on one’s head!  It is signed on the bottom.

Erik Fender is the son of Martha Appleleaf and the grandson of noted potter Carmelita Dunlap. Erik combines classic San Ildefonso imagery with his own creative style. His pottery is signed, with his Tewa name, “Than Tsideh”.  This is a classic San Ildefonso water jar with a high shoulder.  The design is painted on the polished surface. There is a feather pattern separated by a rain and cloud design.  Note the precision of his painting!  It is nearly perfect! Around the shoulder is a cloud pattern.  The jar is fired a distinctive coloration.  It is signed on the bottom.

This carving is by Albert Livingston.  It is carved from marble in the shape of a realistic badger.

This Zuni carving by Lena Boone is made from turquoise.  The fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The turquoise is green in coloration.

This Zuni carving by Lena Boone is made from turquoise.  The fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The turquoise has a deep blue coloration.

This Zuni carving by Lena Boone is made from glass.  The mountain lion is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The glass is a deep red coloration.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from glass.  The mountain lion is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The glass has a green, blue, yellow and clear coloration.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from glass.  The beaver is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The glass has a green, blue, yellow and clear coloration.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from sodalite.  The badger is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The sodalite has a deep blue and white coloration.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from azurite.  The eagle is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The azurite has a deep blue coloration with specs of green.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from glass.  This fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back. The glass is a opaque blue coloration.

This Zuni carving by Herbert Pincion is carved from spotted travertine.  It is a highly detailed carving with a mare and sitting foal.  For the size, it is wonderfully detailed!

Vickie Quandelacy is a sister of Stuart Quandelacy and daughter of Dickie and Amy Quandelacy.  She is known for her complex design of corn maidens.  This corn maiden is is a classic of her style.  It is double sided and carved from mother of pearl shell. On one side is the Zuni maiden with an inlaid necklace.  The other side has the corn maiden and the inlaid necklace and dragonflies.  The piece is set on a shell base.

Vickie Quandelacy is a sister of Stuart Quandelacy and daughter of Dickie and Amy Quandelacy.  She is known for her complex design of corn maidens.  This corn maiden is carved out of green snail shell.  She has captured the shape of the shell and etched the corn design and dragonflies in as the design.  The back has the etched hair and more dragonflies.  The piece is set onto a piece of turquoise.  The opalescene of the shell is striking on this piece!

Lisa Holt and Harlan Reano make an amazing team, working to create innovative pottery using traditional techniques.  Lisa makes the pottery and it is painted by Harlan.  This storage jar is a striking shape with tall sides and a slight neck. The neck and the base are painted with wild spinach plant designs.  Around the center of the jar are panels with varied rain designs.  Each is different than the next creating a stunning appearance as the jar is turned.  The jar is stunning complexity in both form and design.  The materials are all traditional as the red and cream are both native clays while the black is wild spinach (a plant). The jar is traditionally fired outdoors.  It is signed on the bottom.

Calvin Analla learned to  make pottery from his sister, Yvonne Lucas and her husband, Steve Lucas.  This large water jar is thin walled and made with the traditional red clay from Laguna Pueblo. The jar is painted with bee-weed, into which he has mixed some mica.  The mica makes reflections in the clay.  Calvin is known for his very delicately painted designs.  This jar has cloud designs above the shoulder and plant designs below.  The thin lines painted with the bee-weed show create a striking contrast with the red clay.  It is signed on the bottom.

This is an exceptionally detailed Zuni carving by Derrick Kaamasee.  It is carved from turquoise. There is an elk standing up on a rock.  There is detail in the fur and the movement.  It is signed on the bottom.

Susan “Snowflake” Romero’s pottery is highly polished and intricately etched with detailed imagery.  Many of her skills are ones that she learned from her father, Joseph Lonewolf. This seedpot tells the story of life at a pond.  There are Mimbres style fish, insects, turtles and more realistic plants.  They are each etched into the surface of the clay on the top of the seedpot. On the sides it is etched and textured to create a contrast to the complexity of the top.  Look closely as the etching and the levels of designs in the clay are outstanding!  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay with her Tewa name, “Pho-sa-We”.  It is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and signed on the bottom.

This Zuni carving is by Freddie Leekya.  The coyote is carved from travertine.  There are turquoise inlay for the eyes and coral for the tongue.  The back has an arrowhead as part of the medicine bundle.

This Zuni carving is by Freddie Leekya.  The bird is carved from travertine.  There are turquoise inlay for the eyes and on the wings.  The beak is mother of pearl.

This Zuni carving by Tim Lementino.  It is a group of five bears carved from pipestone.  They each have turquoise eyes.  There is a bundle holding them together from shell and turquoise.

This Zuni carving by Lena Boone. She is one of the most famous of the traditional Zuni fetish carvers. This badger is carved from turquoise and has a medicine bundle on it back.

This Zuni carving by Rodney Laiwakete is carved from agate. There is a Big Horn Sheep which has an inlaid turquoise and moher -of -pearl heartline.  The bird on the back is also carved from agate.  It is attached as a medicine bundle.

Bernice Naranjo is known for her innovative incised pottery.  This seedpot is fully polished and fired brown.  She has etched a series of lizards on the surface of the piece. Some are placed sitting on the red polished clay and others on fine-line etched sections reminiscent of the sand or pottery shards.  The piece is signed on the bottom.

This seedpot by Dean Haungooah is highly detailed complicated sgraffito designs. The seedpot has a fish on one side and a Tewa sun on the other.  There are additional Mimbres insects along with a pueblo wall.  The etching on the surface is on different levels, creating matte and polished designs. There is a single inset piece of shell bead for the eye of the fish.  The seedpot is from 1993 and it is signed, “Dean Haungooah”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Darlene Nampeyo James learned to make pottery from her aunts, Dextra Quotskuyva and Priscilla Nampeyo.  Her pottery is more traditional in style and she continues to use Hopi clay for her pottery and paint with bee-weed for the black.  This bowl is thin walled and very tightly painted.  The design depicts a thunderstorm at night.  There are stars painted on the rim of the bowl and with terraced clouds and lightning.  The mountains are painted below.  The bowl has been traditionally fired to create the variations in color on the surface.  It is signed on the bottom.

Marvin is a great-great grandson of noted potter Dominguita Pino Martinez, a great-grandson of Maria Martinez and a grandson of Adam and Santana Martinez.  Marvin works with his wife, Frances (from Santa Clara) on their pottery. This wide, flat bowl is fully polished. It is painted with a feather and avanyu design on the top of the piece.  It is traditionally fired black.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Andrew Pacheco is a nephew of noted potter Robert Tenorio.  He is known for his use of traditional techniques and materials but with non-traditional designs.  This is one of his asymmetrical jars with dinosaurs as the designs.  He started out making traditional Kewa pottery but was interested in dinosaurs. They quickly became a theme on his pottery. It is the combination of the dinosaurs and the form which work perfectly together and create a sense of movement to the piece.  The jar is painted with native clays and bee-weed and traditionally fired.

Susan “Snowflake” Romero’s pottery is highly polished and intricately etched with detailed imagery.  Many of her skills are ones that she learned from her father, Joseph Lonewolf. This seedpot has a realistic buffalo etched onto the top of the piece.  On the sides are buffalo tracks and two petroglyph style buffalo.  Note also how Susan has etched her pottery. The polished red is the surface, and then she often etches just the polished area away to reveal the matte red and the going deeper, there is the tan of the clay.  It is very complicated and time consuming to etch in this manner!  However, the results are exceptional.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay with her Tewa name, “Pho-sa-We”.  It is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and signed on the bottom.

Elijah Naranjo learned to make pottery from his mother Dolly Naranjo and sister Jody Naranjo.  He works in a similar style with the sgraffito designs and brown firing. This small seedpot has a Mimbres style lizard on the top.  It is fully polished and there are additional feather designs in the clay. The seedpot is from 2000.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Shawn Tafoya is a son of Lucy YearFlower Tafoya, a grandson of Camilio Tafoya and a great-grandson of SaraFina Tafoya.  He began making art at the age of five. Although Shawn is a traditionalist in terms of material and technique, his pottery and Pueblo embroidery work is strikingly innovative, and he is well known for it. He has won numerous awards for his work, and has participated in many shows and exhibitions. Interestingly, Shawn is also one of the most gifted Pueblo textile embroiderers working today and teaches this traditional art throughout the northern villages. His pottery is often a unique balance of traditional and contemporary.  This round tile is inspired by the ancient Mimbres pottery of the 1100’s.  Here, he has painted a hunter with an antelope and a small dog at his feet.  The small dog is really a charming part of this piece!  The rim has fineline patterns painted with clay.  The piece is signed on the back in the clay.

While Ryan Roller has been making pottery since he was a child it is his recent work which has risen to a new level of sophistication in form, polish, carving and firing techniques.  This jar is a classic water jar shape with a double shoulder and slightly turned out rim. The body of the piece is fully polished and there are four bear paws incised into the clay.  Below the shoulder are water designs that are carved into the clay.  Ryan’s pieces are stone polished and he gets an amazing even tonality to the surface of his work! It is nice to see how he is able to vary the design on such a classic piece!

Spectacular!  This is a remarkable piece from Luciano.  It is a beautiful shape with a wide shoulder and sloping neck. The entire jar is fully polished and the designs are etched into the clay. There are deer, a bear and wild turkey.  Flowing through the background of the jar is a water serpent (avanyu), which ties the entire piece together.  The area where he has etched away the polished surface he has then scraped down to create a striking contrast between the polished and matte surface.  The color from the firing on this jar is stunning as it is deep, rich brown.  It is great to see a younger potter taking chances on such major work.  Luciano is definitely one of those younger potters to watch!

Jody Folwell is known for her creative pottery shapes and designs.  This bowl is one of her classicforms with an asymmetrical polished rim.  The design on one side is a water serpent pattern which is etched into the clay.  The opposite side has a flower motif in the clay.   The bowl is fired brown with various colorations from the firing.  It is signed on the bottom, “Jody”.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

Darlene learned to make pottery from her aunts, Dextra and Priscilla.  Her pottery is more traditional in style and she continues to use Hopi clay for her pottery and paint with bee-weed for the black.  This is a charming set she has made with two small bowls made with the Hopi red clay.  They are affixed to two clay “rock” slabs.  She said she had made the miniatures and thought they were more interesting as a group, as if they were sitting out on the rocks at Hopi.  It has been traditionally fired to create the variations in color on the surface.  It is signed on the back.

Dolores Aragon is known for her miniature pottery. This small seedpot is painted with a flower pattern on the top. The design extends outward with additional flower petals.  While it is small, it is beautifully painted!  It is signed on the bottom.