Cochiti Pueblo Eight Piece Pottery Nacimiento [SOLD]

Ada Suina resumed making pottery figurines a few years ago after several years of not doing so following the death of her husband.  She relied so much on his help in digging the clay and working it to a point where she could form the figurines. Now, at age 85, she has to do everything by herself, therefore it is taking significantly more time to complete a piece. She is not very actively making pottery at this time. She was not displaying pottery at the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2015.

According to Ada, she made her first nacimiento in 1977.  She immediately achieved fame with her nacimientos.  The Museum of Albuquerque, which opened in 1979, immediately purchased a nacimiento set from her for its permanent collection.  Ada was included in the 1979 book Nacimientos by Guy and Doris Monthan (click on our Recomended Reading link below for more information on this book).

This Cochiti Pueblo nacimiento is an older set, probably over 10 years old.  The original date of acquisition is not known.  The set consists of 8 pieces—Mary, Joseph, Jesus, cradle and four animals.  The animals are two donkeys and two sheep.

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading:  Nacimientos - Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans by Guy and Doris Monthan

Provenance: from the collection of a New Mexico resident who provided over 75 Cochiti figurines for our 2015 Holiday Storyteller Exhibit