Santa Clara Pottery
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. |  | |
This bowl was made by Lela and Luther Gutierrez, a famous mother and son team. This bowl is 4 inches tall and 6 inches wide.
This wedding vase is stunning. The precise designs on the pot are made beautifully. The muted colors are exquisite.
This pot stands 3 inches tall. Signed Lela and Luther Gutierrez this pot has the Avanyu "water serpent" design.
Lela and Luther Gutierrez are of the Santa Clara Pueblo. The pots from this mother and son collaboration are highly sought. They would add to any collection. This wedding vase stands 5 1/2 inches.
Clay beaver from the Pueblo of Santa Clara in New Mexico. Measures 4 1/2 inches long and is surface decorated with clay slip. Some of the features are carved into the beaver, like it's eyes and mouth.
Beautiful polychrome redware pot with two handles. The pot is decorated with cream, red, yellow, blue slip in a design that is mirrored on each side of the bowl. Measures 9 1/2 inches by 8 inches by 6 inches tall. This bowl was signed on the bottom, Santa Clara is legible but the artist signature is not readable.
Anita Suazo of the Santa Clara Pueblo has been making award winning pottery for 50 some years. Anita's fine pottery began placing at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 1979. The featured pot has some of her favorite design elements, rain clouds and kiva steps. Circumference is 19 1/2 inches.
This nice Santa Clara red toned pot is signed "Minnie" and measures 6-1/2" wide and 6" high.
A nicely incised hand-coiled pot by Phyllis Tafoya of Santa Clara Pueblo. The incised image is a Water Serpent. This pot is four and one-half" wide by 2 and one-half inches tall.
This beautifully-shaped redware pot by Santa Clara potter Greg Garcia has been stone-polished to a wonderful luster. This pot is five inchees tall. Greg Garcia is the grandson of Severa and Cleto Tafoya, son of Lydia Tafoya and Santiago Garcia. He has won First, Second and Third prizes at Santa Fe Indian Market.
Minnie Vigil and her family are well known for their quality Santa Clara pottery. Minnie uses Polychrome colors created from clay slips. The wedding vase pictured has been painted with cloud and rainbow symbols. "Minnie" Santa Clara is signed on the bottom. Vase is 5-1/2" tall.
This traditional black Santa Clara vase was made by Elaine Salazar. It measures 5.25" in height and features a plain black satin finish with no designs.
Elaine Salazar and her sisters, Angela Salazar and Yolanda Velarde, are a family of fine young Santa Clara potters. She was taught to pot by her mother, Frances Salazar and her grandmother, the respected potter Flora Naranjo.
In Gregory Schaaf's book on northern Pueblo pottery, Elaine said she enjoys potting because "it gives me a good feeling to know that I made something with my hands and to know that people like my work."
This Santa Clara handled bowl features a white on red design and a fluted top edge. This bowl measures 5.5" high by 6.5" and 6.25" in diameter since it is not perfectly round - it is wider where the handle attaches. This bowl is from the Dr. Powell collection.
A lovely "Avanyu" or water serpent redware vase by Vickie Martinez. Beautifully shaped and carved.
Derek de la Cruz and Lois Gutierrez sign their pottery Lois and Derek. Derek is the son of Juan de la Cruz and son-in-law of Petra Gutierrez. The two are known for their large polychrome pots which are beautifully painted; all of their paints are made from natural clay and mineral pigments.
Frances M. Chavarria actively made pottery from 1930 to 1970. She was the daughter of Cynthia Tafoya and wife of Antonio Chavarria. A number of her pots are in the Heard Museum collection in Phoenix Arizona.
Chirstina Naranjo made pottery from 1925 to 1980; she was the daughter of Sarafino and Geronimo Tafoya, and her pottery was included in the Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibit at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. Her pottery is also included in the Heard Museum collection in Phoenix, Arizona. The value of her pieces consistently rises.
Margaret Gutierrez began making pottery in 1955, and among her many exhibits, was included in the Seven Families in Pueblo Potter at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. She is the daughter of Lela and Van Gutierrez. She has won a 1st at Santa Fe Indian Market for a painted wedding vase, and her pottery has sold consistently.
Teresita Naranjo actively made pottery from 1935-1999. She was the daughter of Victor and Christina Naranjo, and her work was in the Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery exhibition at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology. She has won numerous awards and her pottery is in many collections, including the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. This particular pot is typical of her work.
