Pottery
The oldest continuously-populated town in the United States lies atop a high mesa in New Mexico. This is the pueblo of Acoma, which looks today much as it did when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s. Acoma Pueblo is well-known for its beautiful white, thin-walled pottery, often with parrots, rainbows and Mimbres figures. Lucy Lewis and her descendants, the Torivio and Chino families are among the most respected families of potters. |  | |
The Hopi people have lived for centuries on three mesas in northern Arizona. Hopi pottery today is a legacy of the old abandoned Hopi pueblo of Sikyatki. Hopi clay is fired to shades of cream to apricot or light red, depending upon iron content. The most famous Hopi potter is probably Nampeyo, who revived many of the Sikyatki designs in the 1880's. Her descendants, along with the Navasi |  | |
Jemez Pueblo is located fifty miles northwest of Albuquerque and dates back to 1703. The pottery varies widely, depending upon the potter. Juanita Fragua is known for her melon styles pots, but she creates other styles, as well. The Fragua and Gachupin familes are among the most well-known for fine pottery. |  | |
Mata Ortiz has become one of the most famous villages known by fine pottery collectors. Juan Quezada first taught himself how to recreate the beautiful old Casas Grandes style pots from shards he found scattered in the desert around his home in northern Mexico, and then taught his family the art. His pots were first discovered in the 1970's in Deming, New Mexico. At this time, there are approximat |  | |
A coating of a combination of piñon and pine pitch is used on Navajo pottery, which makes it distinct from other pueblo and Southwestern pottery. This pitch was traditionally used to seal the pots for carrying water and food. The application technique of the pitch affects the color, which ranges from dark brown to golden brown. A pitch pot is made by dipping a rag-covered stick into boiling pine pitch and painting this pitch all over the pot so that it holds water and has a lovely glossy finish. |  | |
Pottery from other pueblos, including Laguna, and areas and artists, including replica pottery. |  | |
San Ildefonso Pueblo is located in north-central New Mexico, and has produced some of the most famous and innovative hand-coiled potters in North America.
Maria and Julian Martinez, their descendants Santana, Adam, Popovi and Tony Da; Blue Corn and Rose Gonzales are well-known innovators in the pottery world. Maria and Julian developed the art of firing to make the first matte black design on polished jet black pottery. Blue Corn is primarily known for her earth-colored highly-polished slips. Rose Gonzales made the first modern carved pottery with distinctive rounded edges. Toh-Atin is privileged to carry pieces by these exceptional artists. |  | |
Santa Clara and San Ildefonso have both been known for black pottery for over three centuries.
A Santa Clara tradition is the creation of large storage jars with an indented bear paw design. The near-legendary families of Tafoya, Naranjo, Navasie and Gutierrez continue to make some of the finest pots in the world. Margaret Tafoya, the matriarch of Santa Clara Pueblo potters, passed away in February 2001 at the age of 96. |  | |
Cochiti Pueblo is probably best known for its storyteller pottery; arguably, the first storyteller was created by Helen Cordero. Many potters at Cochiti and other pueblos have since taken up the art of making storytellers, and have expanded into making many types of little figures, including animal storytellers and nativity scenes. |  | |
Zia is an old northern New Mexico pueblo that was reported by Coronado's men in 1540. The common motif is the roadrunner, as well as stylized birds, rainbows, flowers, and other geometric patterns, in dark brown, brownish red, creamy white and red clay. |  | |
Zuni Pueblo is located just south of Gallup, New Mexico. Most clay at Zuni is pink, often covered by a white slip. Sculpture, water and hunting symbols are popular. | ||
Vera Fragua is a potter of storyteller dolls. This one features two girls, one boy, a ball, book and a block. The doll measures 4 inches tall.
Vera Fragua storyteller doll is 4 inches tall. She holds 3 children on her lap each has a item in their hands. Playful and detailed, describes the work of Vera.
Ed Herrera, Cochiti Pueblo potter, creates Bear storytellers. This sweet natural brown bear has its little one riding on its back. The bear paw print on the side of her is a sign of strength and protection.
Formed from a single slab of light peach clay, and covered with a white slip, this figure is carved and polished in select areas. The female is holding a plate in her hands. She stands 17 inches tall and is 7 inches wide at the base. The bottom is signed - ANDREW 1990.
Norman Lansing delicately incises his spiritually inspired images into the clay pottery. They are contemporary and unique works or art. In " Let My Dog By", the story wraps around the pot following what appears to be a spine or trail. There are stars, feathers and animals that surround the different human figures. The pot measures 8 1/2 inches by 7 inches tall.
"A Gift from the Owl" is a large white feather, that she is holding near her heart. Jane Morehart is evolving her art form with the introduction of faces to her figures. The aboriginal females have an ethereal quality to their spirit. The inspirations come from actual experiences Jane has had on her journey.
When asked about her new direction, artist Jane Morehart said " I'm not sure, it just evolved over time." The sculptures of Morehart have always been robed female figures or the essence of them, that seem to stand alone in time and with the elements. Her creative titles give the viewer a little insight into the moment that Jane has captured. With the aboriginal facial features and the natural turquoise jewelry, accenting her lovely clay sculptures.
This is hand painted and etched by Norman Lansing on a premade pot. It measures 6.5" in diameter and 4" in height and features scenes including a sunface and kachinas among other images and geometric designs.
This is hand painted and etched by Norman Lansing on a premade pot. It measures 7" in diameter and 2.5" in height and features scenes made with a variety of images and geometric designs combined together.
This is hand painted and etched by Norman Lansing on a premade pot. It measures 6.75" in diameter and 4.5" in height and features scenes including flying eagles among other images and geometric designs.
