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Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery
Black pottery from the Santa Clara Pueblo is among the most well-known in the entire world. Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo is arguably the most well known Potter ever to live. She became famous for the black pottery tradition that is now carried on by artists of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Santa Clara Pueblo pottery has become the most collectible Native American pottery. This incredible art form begins with natural red clays gathered from the pueblos and surrounding hills. The clay undergoes many preparations before it is finally molded into the finished product. The artist generally rolls the clay into long thin rolls, then begins to "build" the piece by layering these rolls one on top of the other. This hand coiled method includes smoothing the coils by hand to the pottery's final shape. The artist then begins the arduous task of polishing the piece. This is accomplished by rubbing a smooth "polishing" stone over the piece over and over until the red clay shines. Finally, the piece is fired in an "oxygen reduction" firing process. During the firing, the artist smothers the fire with horse manure. The manure traps a thick, carbon rich smoke all around the piece. The carbon contained in the smoke fuses itself into the clay, turning it black. This black color can never be removed or washed off. The entire process is fraught with problems as about 3 of every 5 pieces actually emerge from the fire without damage. Given the rarity of this pottery, artists often view the clay as a living entity. A finished piece is often revered as a gift from what pueblo potters often respectfully refer to as the "Clay Mother". The end result is a stunning piece of Native American pottery work of art.
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Daniel Begay Daniel is the son of Navajo artist Harrison Begay, who married into the Santa Clara Pueblo and is well known for his deeply carved pottery made using Santa Clara techniques and featuring both Navajo and Santa Clara imagery. Daniel's work is similar to his father's, although his carving tends to be slightly more free flowing, stemming from his interest in graffiti style artwork as a younger man. This exquisite redware piece from Daniel is covered in deeply carved hand and geometric designs with both stone polished and matte finishes, and features a unique square shape. He signs his work as Daniel with year the pot was made. 6 1/2" Tall , 7 1/2" at Widest Point Suggested Retail $1200.00 / Your Price: $895.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Made Pottery Figureby Margaret Gutierrez This fine lady was one-half of the famous potting duo of Margaret and Luther. Margaret and Luther were siblings -- the children of another well known potting combination -- Lela and Van. Lela and Van created a very distinctive style based on multiple colored slips and paints and this style was continued and modified somewhat by Margaret and Luther. Upon Luther's death in 1989, Margaret continued to work with the assistance of Luther's daughter Pauline, but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Since that time, Margaret has continued the tradition alone creating fine figurines and pots in a most unique style. Today she works closely with her great-niece Stephanie Naranjo creating the delightful animal and mudhead figures. She signs each piece as Margaret. 1 1/4" Tall , 1 3/4" Long Suggested Retail $64.00 / Your Price: $48.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Daniel Begay Daniel is the son of Navajo artist Harrison Begay, who married into the Santa Clara Pueblo and is well known for his deeply carved pottery made using Santa Clara techniques and featuring both Navajo and Santa Clara imagery. Daniel's work is similar to his father's, although his carving tends to be slightly more free flowing, stemming from his interest in graffiti style artwork as a younger man. This exquisite redware piece from Daniel is deeply carved with three bears surround by geometric designs and stone polished to a high shine. He signs his work as Daniel with year the pot was made. 5" Tall , 4" at Widest Point Suggested Retail $600.00 / Your Price: $450.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Marvin and Delores Moquino Marvin Moquino was born in 1966 and Delores Moquino was born in 1967. They have been making pottery together since 1985. They are members of the Coyote/Corn Clans. Both were taught by Marvin's dad Corn Moquino. They specialize in traditional, deep carved bowls and sgrafitto etching. They gather their materials from the Santa Clara Reservation and fire their pottery outdoors. Their work is very high quality. Both are featured in several books and are passing their talent on to their children Auienita Moquino & Jonathan Moquino. They have won awards at Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show. This Piece Is Signed Marvin -n- Delores Moquino SCP. 4 1/2" Tall, 5 1/4" Wide Suggested Retail $525.00 / Your Price: $399.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Made Pottery Figureby Margaret Gutierrez This fine lady was one-half of the famous potting duo of Margaret and Luther. Margaret and Luther were siblings -- the children of another well known potting combination -- Lela and Van. Lela and Van created a very distinctive style based on multiple colored slips and paints and this style was continued and modified somewhat by Margaret and Luther. Upon Luther's death in 1989, Margaret continued to work with the assistance of Luther's daughter Pauline, but Pauline died shortly thereafter. Since that time, Margaret has continued the tradition alone creating fine figurines and pots in a most unique style. Today she works closely with her great-niece Stephanie Naranjo creating the delightful animal and mudhead figures. She signs each piece as Margaret. 1 1/4" Tall , 2 1/8" Long Suggested Retail $64.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Julie Gutierrez Julie was born in 1965 and has been potting since 1977. She learned to work the clay from her mother, Victoria Gutierrez, and also counts two sisters, Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez, as inspiration. Julie often makes animals and a mushroom shape of her own creation, in addition to more traditional pottery shapes. Her trademark design is a swirling sgraffito pattern that mimics flowers or a spider's web in both red- and blackware. On occasion, Julie likes to work with her husband, Johnny Tapia, also of Santa Clara. This piece features intricate sgraffito designs with carved butterflies and hummingbirds. It is signed by the artist. 6 1/4" Tall, 6" Wide Suggested Retail $798.00 / Your Price: $595.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Made Pottery Pigby Paul & Dorothy Gutierrez Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez have been married since 1965, and have two sons, Paul Gutierrez Jr. and Gary Gutierrez. Dorothy was born in 1940 and is a Navajo woman. Her mother is a weaver who weaves belts. Paul Sr. was born is 1936 and is a Tewa Pueblo Indian. They are very well known for their Black Mudhead Figurines. The mudheads are now what we call "Koshares" and they take part in the Indian ceremonial dances as clowns. They are made to put a smile on your face and to remind you not to take life so seriously all of the time. Paul's parents were both well know potters by the names of Lela and Vann Gutierrez. Paul has two sisters. Margaret Gutierrez, in her late fifties, to out knowledge still makes pottery. She specializes in polychrome bowls and figurines. Paul's late sister, Pauline Gutierrez, taught him the art of pottery making. Paul's niece, Stephanie Naranjo, also makes polychrome figurines. The Gutierrez family biography can be found in many books including "The fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery," by Rick Dillingham. 1 1/2" Tall , 2 3/4" Long Suggested Retail $64.00 / Your Price: $50.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Julie Gutierrez Julie was born in 1965 and has been potting since 1977. She learned to work the clay from her mother, Victoria Gutierrez, and also counts two sisters, Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez, as inspiration. Julie often makes animals and a mushroom shape of her own creation, in addition to more traditional pottery shapes. Her trademark design is a swirling sgraffito pattern that mimics flowers or a spider's web in both red- and blackware. On occasion, Julie likes to work with her husband, Johnny Tapia, also of Santa Clara. This piece features intricate sgraffito designs with carved butterflies and hummingbirds. It is signed by the artist. 3" Tall, 2 3/4" Wide Suggested Retail $175.00 / Your Price: $135.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Julie Gutierrez Julie was born in 1965 and has been potting since 1977. She learned to work the clay from her mother, Victoria Gutierrez, and also counts two sisters, Effie Garcia and Sally M. Gutierrez, as inspiration. Julie often makes animals and a mushroom shape of her own creation, in addition to more traditional pottery shapes. Her trademark design is a swirling sgraffito pattern that mimics flowers or a spider's web in both red- and blackware. On occasion, Julie likes to work with her husband, Johnny Tapia, also of Santa Clara. This piece features intricate sgraffito designs with carved butterflies and hummingbirds. It is signed by the artist. 3" Tall, 2 3/4" Wide Suggested Retail $175.00 / Your Price: $135.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Birdell Vine Flower Hand coiled, stone polished red ware pottery from Birdell Vine Flower. Signed by the artist. 3" Tall , 4" Wide Suggested Retail $120.00 / Your Price: $90.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Tricia Velarde Tricia is the niece of artist Glenda Naranjo. Her style is very similar to her aunt's and she primarily makes pots with the classic water serpent and prayer feather designs. Her pots are all crafted using traditional methods. She signs Tricia Velarde, Santa Clara Pueblo. 3 3/4" Tall, 4 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $160.00 / Your Price: $120.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Gwen Tafoya Gwen Tafoya was born in 1965 into the Santa Clara Pueblo-Tewa. She began experimenting with pottery making at the age of 6. She started out hand coiling small bowls and pots, using traditional methods. Gwen began making larger pieces of pottery by the time she reached the age of 16, and eventually would etch on the pottery steadily. Gwen was inspired to make pottery by her mother, Mary Agnes Tafoya. She taught Gwen all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional Santa Clara Pottery. Gwen specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara pottery which she then carves and etches by hand. She gathers her natural pigments from within the hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Gwen cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, polishes, and fires her pottery outdoors with horse manure. She especially likes to make seed pots because she has more room to etch her favorite designs of hummingbirds or flowers on the top of the pottery. Gwen also has a special part in her heart for the wedding vase because of its meaning. Gwen signs her pottery as “Gwen Tafoya SCP”. 7" Tall, 6" Wide Suggested Retail $950.00 / Your Price: $798.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Dusty Naranjo Like her brother, Forrest Naranjo, Dusty was not raised in a strictly pueblo environment. Her father, Tito Naranjo, was a university professor and this less traditional upbringing probably accounts for the contemporary styles of Dusty's pottery. In fact, Dusty did not even pursue pottery until a little later in life. She first graduated with a BA in psychology from NM Highlands University and recently obtained her Master's Degree in Art Therapy. However, having been exposed to pottery making throughout her life -- both her parents pot and her father's siblings are Jody Folwell, Nora Naranjo- Morse and Dolly Naranjo -- it was perhaps inevitable that Dusty give it a try. When she did begin potting she discovered that is was a wonderful creative process. Using only traditional techniques, Dusty is now a well known potter having progressed far in a short period of time. This beautiful piece features intricate geometric designs and is signed Dusty. 4" Tall, 3 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $675.00 / Your Price: $498.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Lidded Potteryby Gwen Tafoya Gwen Tafoya was born in 1965 into the Santa Clara Pueblo-Tewa. She began experimenting with pottery making at the age of 6. She started out hand coiling small bowls and pots, using traditional methods. Gwen began making larger pieces of pottery by the time she reached the age of 16, and eventually would etch on the pottery steadily. Gwen was inspired to make pottery by her mother, Mary Agnes Tafoya. She taught Gwen all the fundamentals of hand coiling traditional Santa Clara Pottery. Gwen specializes in hand coiling traditional Santa Clara pottery which she then carves and etches by hand. She gathers her natural pigments from within the hills of the Santa Clara Pueblo. Gwen cleans, mixes, hand coils, shapes, polishes, and fires her pottery outdoors with horse manure. She especially likes to make seed pots because she has more room to etch her favorite designs of hummingbirds or flowers on the top of the pottery. Gwen also has a special part in her heart for the wedding vase because of its meaning. Gwen signs her pottery as “Gwen Tafoya SCP”. 5" Tall, 3 1/4" Wide Suggested Retail $260.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Lois Gutierrez de la Cruz Lois is an award winning artist from the Santa Clara Pueblo. Working with her husband, Derek de la Cruz, she has helped to revive the polychrome style of decoration which has mostly disappeared from Santa Clara. Lois makes the pots and paints the designs while her husband helps with the firing and finding clay. She paints various designs most often depicting dances or pueblo life. By Combining white with a dark gold clay, Lois has created her own custom slip which fires as a lovely color. Each pot is signed Lois with a cross. This piece was selected for its size and shape, thin walls and the wonderful design. It depicts an Avanyu sea serpent encircling the perimeter with feather patterns along the top. 7 1/2" Tall, 10 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $4500.00 / Your Price: $3450.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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