Ada Suina Storyteller with Two Children

A storyteller is a unique form of pottery that depicts human figures engaged in the timeless act of storytelling, a special aspect of Pueblo life based on oral histories passed down from generation to generation. Cochiti Pueblo artist Ada Suina presents a captivating storyteller featuring a loving mother and her two daughters.

Painted in a simple yet elegant palette of orange and black over white clay slip, the figures are brought to life with intricate details. The mother, adorned in a traditional Pueblo dress with a squash blossom necklace, embraces her daughters with a tender gesture. Her hair is tied up in a classic style, and her hands, adorned with rings, suggest a life of experience.

The daughters, dressed in traditional attire, wear their dresses over one shoulder and under the other, a common style in Pueblo culture. One, clad in an orange dress, seems to be dozing off, while the other, in a black dress, listens intently to her mother's words. The scalloped fringe on the mother's dress, a common rain cloud motif in Pueblo pottery, adds a cultural reference.

Ada Suina, a talented artist from Cochiti Pueblo, began her pottery journey in her mid-forties, inspired by her mother-in-law, Aurelia Suina. Her storytellers, created since 1977, showcase her natural talent for capturing the human form in clay. This particular piece is a testament to her insights as a mother having raised eleven children and a deep connection to her cultural heritage.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Ada Suina Storyteller with Two Children is from a collector in Texas who originally purchased it in Oak Creek Canyon, AZ in the early 2000's.

Recommended Reading: Clay Mirror - From Monos to Storytellers: Reflections from Cochiti Pueblo. The Tom & Charlotte Mittler Collection

TAGS:  Cochiti Pueblo, Stephanie Rhoades (Snowflake Flower), Virginia Naranjo, pottery making, pottery figurines, Ada Suina