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”.

his miniature jar by Camilio Tafoya is from  by Camilio is from 1975. It is etched with a feather pattern around the neck.  At the base the piece is polished and there is a single flower also etched into the surface of the clay.  It is signed on the bottom “Camilio Sunflower Tafoya”. It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair..

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.

James Garcia Nampeyo is a son of Leah Garcia Nampeyo, a grandson of Fannie Nampeyo and a great-grandson of Nampeyo of Hano.  This is a large wide shoulder jar by James.  It is fully polished and painted with a very classic eagle tail design. This motif was made famous in the pottery of Nampeyo of Hano when she revived it from historic Sikyatki pottery. The design is painted in four sections and the black is bee-weed and the red, a clay slip.  The jar is traditionally fired with some slight blushes to the surface.  It is signed on the bottom.

Mary Cain was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and a granddaughter of SaraFina Tafoya.  Her granddaughters Tammy Garcia and Autumn Borts-Medlock, continue a family tradition of making exceptional pottery.  She was known for her classic style Santa Clara pottery.  This bowl is carved with a cloud and wind pattern which encircles the piece.  The bowl is highly polished and fired a dark black.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mary Cain”.    It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  One great piece of ephemera with the bowl is one of her business cards!

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.

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.

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 large jar has a spiraling yucca or plant design extending up from the shoulder 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!

Shana Garcia is known for her very thin walled pottery.  Each piece is coil built and painted with yucca to create the long thin lines.  This jar has a series of bird wing patterns as part of the overall design.  They swirl around the jar creating beautiful op-art imagery.  The rim of the jar is sculptured with three pieces of clay and a fineline bird wing pattern.  Shana said that this 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 Zuni carving by Derrick Kaamasee is carved from turquoise. There are two eagles and a small baby eagle on the branch by their feet.  The piece is very intricately carved with much detail to the wings. The eyes are inlaid with jet.

Susan “Snowflake” Romero’s pottery is highly polished and intricately etched with detailed imagery.  She learned to make pottery from her father, Joseph Lonewolf. This seedpot has a realistic eagle etched into the surface on the top.  Surrounding the eagle is a Mimbres style eagle head (above the beak) and note the incised basket weave lines as well.  For such small pieces, Susan is able to create amazingly complex designs using various depths of the clay. This is actually a larger sized piece of her pottery!  It is in perfect condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair and 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 clear, white and pink 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 glass.  The badger is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back.  The glass has a green, blue and clear coloration.

This Zuni carving by Daphne Quam is made from turquoise.  This fox is traditional in shape and has an arrowhead bundle on its back. The turquoise has some great color variation.

Judy Lewis is a sister of noted potters Rebecca Lucario, Carolyn Concho and Marylyn Henderson Ray.  She is known for her figurative pottery.  This jar is painted with intricate traditional Acoma rain and cloud patterns.  Interspersed between the designs are ladybugs and butterflies. They are in relief giving the jar added dimension.  The jar is signed on the bottom and there is certainly a charm in the designs and intricacy of Judy’s pottery.

This plate by Maria Martinez is one of her classic pieces.  It was made by Maria Martinez and painted by her daughter-in-law Santana.It has a nearly gunmetal appearance to the surface of the piece. The design the feather pattern which was originated by Maria’s husband, Julian.  Here, Santana has painted it in a very symmetrical style.  The surface is nearly flawless and it is beautiful in the flow of the design on the slightly curved surface.  It is signed on the back in the clay, “Marie + Santana”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Definitely a classic!  

To learn more about Maria’s signatures, click here.

This Zuni carving by Derrick Kaamasee is carved from turquoise. There are two buffalo in this highly detailed carving.  There is the larger buffalo and the baby buffalo sitting to the side!  The eyes are inset with jet.  It is a charming piece!

This is a large double shoulder water jar by Cavan Gonzales. He is a descendant of Maria Martinez, through her son Adam Martinez.  Cavan is one of the few potters today who continues to make traditional polychrome pottery.  This jar is slipped with a cream colored clay and then painted with black and red clay slips.  The design is a rain, snow and cloud motif which encircles the jar. The rim is fluted and then painted with a red clay slip on the inside.  The jar has been traditionally fired and it is signed on the bottom in the clay.

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.

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 by Michael Mahooty is carved from rainbow calcite.  It is a striking coloration to the stone.  There is an arrowhead carved from mother of pearl and medicine bundle on the back.

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 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 Bernard Laiwakete is carved from Orthocera fossil.  It has a heartline on one side and the other side it is possible to see the fossils!

Carol Velarde is known for her deeply carved pottery. This  bowl is deeply carved with a rain and lightning design.  Note how deeply she carves into the clay relative to the size of the bowl!  After it is carved and polished she then uses clay to outline the design.  Visually, this makes the imagery more dramatic.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Rose Gutierrez is a daughter of noted potter Helen Gutierrez and a sister of Geraldine Gutierrez and Kathy Gutierrez.  This is a simple bowl with a flower motif around the rim painted with cream colored clay.   The side of bowl has a painted spider as well as one on the inside. The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Dolly Naranjo is a daughter of Rose Naranjo and the mother of Jody and Elijah Naranjo.  This canteen is fully polished and has been fired brown.  There is a bird and flowers etched into the front of the piece. There is a leather strap for the handles.  It is signed “Dolly” on the bottom in the clay.

Jamie Zane Smith creates dynamic pieces which combine strong forms with stamped surface designs. This striking jar is made with Oklahoma clay and coil built.  Jamie carves a stamp out of wood and uses that to texture his pottery.  This jar has a series of flowers which are impressed into the clay.  The rim of the jar is polished to create a visual contrast to the matte areas of the flowers.  The entire enterior of the jar is also fully polished.  Jamie brings together a multitude of dimensions in his work blending the historic past with his modern visions.  Jamie remains one of the young creative potters bringing life to the clay in an area outside the southwest.

Madeline Naranjo creates beautifully carved and polished pottery.  This is a distinctive piece of her work in terms of form.  It is an engagement basket, which is always a technically difficult form.  It is certainly one for which her grandmother, Madeline Naranjo, was well known for making.  This piece is carved with flowers for the design.  They are also carved for the handle!  They vary from polished to matte to create a contrast as the piece is turned.    Note as well how her matte areas are sanded and perfectly smooth so that there are no indentions or areas where the matte might make a shadow.  Her designs are always innovative and beautifully executed.

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.

Rebecca Lucario is known for her delicate and intricately painted pottery.  This seedpot is a smaller piece of her pottery, but very creatively designed.  There are lizards on one half of the piece and the opposite side is impressed with dots, to represent the sand.  There is almost a corrugated feel to the surface of the white area of the seedpot.  The seedpot is signed on the bottom.

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.

Lela Gutierrez began making pottery in the 1930’s with her husband, Van Gutierrez.  After Van passed away in 1956 she continued to make pottery with her son, Luther Gutierrez.  She would make the pieces and Luther would paint the designs.  They worked together for only 10 years from 1956 to 1966.  This open bowl is a later piece of their pottery.  It has a triangular mountain design painted around the shoulder.  Above the mountains are cloud patterns, each with a different design.  “Inside” the mountains are various earth symbols.  All the various colors are derived from natural clay slips and painted onto the piece before it was fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Lela/Luther”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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.

Santa Clara potter Frances Salazar was known for her painted pottery.  This wedding vase is from the 1950’s.  It is fully polished and has a deer painted on each side.  Below the deer are cloud patterns and in front of the deer are prayer feathers.  The deer are painted in the classic Pueblo two-dimensional style and are charming and a bit whimsical as well.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Frances”.  It is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. There are some rubs on the surface.  Definitely a charming piece of Pueblo history!

Charmae Natseway is known for her exceptionally painted pottery and use of distinctive forms. This is one of her few traditional style seedpots.  The piece is a flat shape and very delicately painted.  There are four Mimbres inspired rabbits as the design.  All the different colors are derived from natural clay slips.  They are surrounded by fineline and geometric patterns.  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.

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!

This is an unusual larger seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf from 1996.  It is a piece which was made by Joseph’s father, Camilio Tafoya.  Camilio passed away in 1995 and he left a variety of pieces in various stages of completion.  Joseph decided that he would finish the various seedpots.  Each piece was signed by Camilio before he passed away and then again by Joseph after he finished the design work.  This seedpot has monarch butterflies encircling the piece.  They are each raised in relief from the surface.  It makes on think that it had already been initially etched by Camilio.  As well, the blue background area has a textured appearance, which is typical for Camilio’s pottery.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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.

This is a fascinating jar from Jody Follwell. The shape is one of her distinctive water jar with a wide shoulder and elongated neck. The jar is polished red around the neck and base while it is matte tan around the shoulder. The jar is designed with both etched and incised imagery.  Around the neck of the jar is female figure sitting by a tree along with a ground hog. Around the shoulder is a figure floating in a river surrounded by fish.  There are also additional feather and star patterns which are etched into the clay.  The bottom of the jar is fully polished and it is signed on the bottom, “Jody”.

Jody Folwell is known for her creative pottery shapes and designs.  This is a classic style for her pottery with a fully polished surface and the asymmetrical mouth.  The rim of the mouth extends down to the shoulder and it is fully polished. The designs are etched into the surface of the clay and various etching techniques are used to create the coloration.  The corn plant pattern is the main imagery and it is surrounded by cloud, rain and Pueblo designs.  The various colorations from black to dark red are all from the traditional outdoor firing.  The bowl is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Jody”.