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Storytellers and Figurines
Storytellers were originally created by Cochiti artist Helen Cordero in 1964. Originally, she created female figures with children in their arms and called these dolls “Singing Mothers”. They quickly gained in popularity and many other artists in Cochiti started making them as well. Helen eventually made a male figure, modeled after her Grandfather, Santiago Quintana, with children clinging to his back and in his lap. The doll had an open mouth as he was telling stories to the children. Helen believed a male doll was more appropriate, as males were traditionally the storytellers in her tribe. As time went on, more and more artists started making their own storyteller dolls, each adapting their own unique style and implementing their own beliefs based on their heritage. Today, the term storyteller refers to any human or animal figure that is covered with smaller children or animals. They have become one of the most collectible and sought after forms of clay art. Among the most notable families making storytellers today are the Fraguas of Jemez Pueblo and the Tellers of Isleta Pueblo. Judy Lewis and her sister Marilyn Ray of Acoma Pueblo have also created some incredibly intricate and collectible pieces.
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Navajo Clay Sculpture"Among Life"by John Whiterock John is a Navajo clay sculptor who specializes in hand made dolls. His pieces are an homage to his mother, Cecelia, who made traditional pottery to supplement the family's income when he was growing up. She taught John and his brother, Junior, all the fundamentals of working with clay to create traditional Navajo pottery. Each doll represents his mother or other female relatives performing Navajo rituals like sheep herding, pottery making, rug weaving and teaching. While contemporary in appearance, the dolls are all traditionally made using clay gathered behind his house and carved using a scalpel and other carvings tools. Each doll is signed by the artist. 5 1/2" Tall, 2" Wide Suggested Retail $99.00 / Your Price: $75.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Jemez Pueblo Storytellerby Marie Toya Marie Toya is from the Jemez Pueblo. She is the daughter of Casimiro and Mary E. Toya. She makes all of her storytellers from all natural materials she collects from the Pueblo. She says her favorite time is when she is making each piece, "It makes me think of what to give each child and what the Grandfather or Grandmother is telling them. Marie has 20 years of experience and has been featured in the book "Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery" By Guy Berger and Nancy Schiffer. This storyteller is signed. 5 1/2" Tall, 3 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $135.00 / Your Price: 90.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Jemez Pueblo Storytellerby Chrislyn Fragua Chrislyn Fragua is a 30 year old Native American potter from the reservation of Jemez Pueblo. She has been making pottery, storytellers and other figures since the age of twelve. Her mother Linda Lucero-Fragua took the time to teach her how to make pottery and taught her to get the clay from the hills of Jemez. She is now passing the skills on to her daughter, Anissa Tsosie. The clays and paint the Jemez potters use come from the surrounding areas of Jemez Pueblo so everything they use in the process of making the pottery is natural. Her favorite part of making pottery is doing the formation. Once she starts working with the clay she doesn't know what she will be forming and she usually gets different ideas. She has won a couple of ribbons from the Eight Northern Art Shows and plans to accomplish more in the near future. 3 7/8" Tall , 2 1/4" Wide Suggested Retail $135.00 / Your Price: $90.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Jemez Pueblo Pottery Figurineby Juanita Fragua A member of the Corn clan, Juanita Fragua is the matriarch of the Fragua family and has been instrumental in the Jemez pottery revival. Potting since the 1950s, she has won many awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market and other craft fairs. Each of her pieces is hand coiled in the traditional methods and painted with all natural paints. Juanita signs each of her pieces in three separate ways. Each piece is marked JCF, carved into the bottom of the pot. She then signs the piece with her full name, Pueblo and date. Last she marks each pot with her trademark arrow. 5 1/8" Tall , 3 1/4" Wide Suggested Retail $99.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Jemez Pueblo Storytellerby Marie Toya Marie Toya is from the Jemez Pueblo. She is the daughter of Casimiro and Mary E. Toya. She makes all of her storytellers from all natural materials she collects from the Pueblo. She says her favorite time is when she is making each piece, "It makes me think of what to give each child and what the Grandfather or Grandmother is telling them. Marie has 20 years of experience and has been featured in the book "Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery" By Guy Berger and Nancy Schiffer. This storyteller is signed. 5 1/2" Tall, 4" Wide Suggested Retail $135.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Jemez Pueblo Storyteller Familyby Chrislyn Fragua Chrislyn Fragua is a 30 year old Native American potter from the reservation of Jemez Pueblo. She has been making pottery, storytellers and other figures since the age of twelve. Her mother Linda Lucero-Fragua took the time to teach her how to make pottery and taught her to get the clay from the hills of Jemez. She is now passing the skills on to her daughter, Anissa Tsosie. The clays and paint the Jemez potters use come from the surrounding areas of Jemez Pueblo so everything they use in the process of making the pottery is natural. Her favorite part of making pottery is doing the formation. Once she starts working with the clay she doesn't know what she will be forming and she usually gets different ideas. She has won a couple of ribbons from the Eight Northern Art Shows and plans to accomplish more in the near future. 4 3/4" Tall, 4" Wide Suggested Retail $300.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Olivia Dominguez & Angel Guerro Trillo This fantastic piece is a collaborative work between Olivia Dominguez, known for her effigy pottery, and Angel Guerro, known for his intricately etched wildlife pieces. The piece is fully etched with detailed wildlife scenes. Signed by Olivia. Includes pottery ring stand. 11 3/4" Tall, 7" Wide Suggested Retail $675.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Andrew Hernandez Andrew Hernandez makes beautiful pottery masks that make great wall hangings. The black base is stone polished and painted with red designs. It is hand coiled and signed by the artist. Comes ready to hang. 6 1/8" Tall, 4 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $105.00 / Your Price: $78.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Mauricio Banuelos Mauricio created this beautiful turtle effigy using the popular mixed clay technique that he painted with intricate red and black geometric designs. This piece is signed by the artist. 4 3/4" Tall, 9 1/4" Long, 6 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $320.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Jorge Corona Jorge creates wonderful animal shaped vessels in white clay which he paints with his own mineral oxide paints. He adds etching to compliment the paintwork. He is a featured artist in The Artistry and History of Mata Ortiz. It is signed by the artist and includes a pottery ring stand. 6" Tall, 8" Long Suggested Retail $135.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Jorge Corona Jorge creates wonderful animal shaped vessels in white clay which he paints with his own mineral oxide paints. He adds etching to compliment the paintwork. He is a featured artist in The Artistry and History of Mata Ortiz. It is signed by the artist and includes a pottery ring stand. 8 1/2" Tall, 4 3/4" Wide Suggested Retail $180.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Olivia Dominguez & Angel Guerro Trillo This fantastic piece is a collaborative work between Olivia Dominguez, known for her effigy pottery, and Angel Guerro, known for his intricately etched wildlife pieces. The piece is fully etched with detailed wildlife scenes. Signed by Olivia. Includes pottery ring stand. 8 1/4" Tall, 7" Wide Suggested Retail $445.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Elicena Cota This amazing piece comes from Elicena Cota. Pieces like these are always exciting to see, as two out of three break in the final firing process because of the unique design. As such, Elicena and her husband Andrew are only able to produce three to four a year. Each mask is painted with a different color combination and pattern. The pot is covered in etched and painted dragonfly designs. Signed by the artist and includes pottery ring stand. 11" Tall, 12" Wide Suggested Retail $1600.00 / Your Price: $1195.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Mata Ortiz Hand Coiled Potteryby Andrew Hernandez Andrew Hernandez makes beautiful pottery masks that make great wall hangings. The black base is stone polished and painted with red, blue and white designs. It is hand coiled and signed by the artist. Comes ready to hang. 6 1/8" Tall, 4 1/2" Wide Suggested Retail $105.00 / Your Price: SOLD Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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Santa Clara Pueblo Hand Coiled Potteryby Eric Tafoya This hand made buffalo figure comes from Eric Tafoya and features turquoise stones for eyes and antler horns. Signed by the artist. 2 1/2" Tall, 3 3/4" Long Suggested Retail $115.00 / Your Price: $87.00 Backed by Our 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!!
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