Evelyn Cheromiah Award Winning Bowl with Tularosa Design

This award winning bowl was made by Laguna Pueblo potter Evelyn Cheromiah (1928-2013) in 1976. This piece was entered in the New Mexico State Fair that year and was awarded Second Premium, with the award ribbon accompanying the bowl. The bowl is noted for its beautifully smooth finish on both the interior and exterior. The bowl features prehistoric designs known as Tularosa designs, rendered in traditional Tularosa pottery's black-on-white slip. The motif predominantly consists of geometric patterns, including steps, diagonal lines, and the signature Tularosa spiral.

Laguna potters are renowned for their use of sharp, right-angled geometric shapes, often of an architectural nature. Cheromiah expertly incorporated this style into her piece. Uniquely, this modern bowl has a concave bottom, akin to traditional olla bottoms, as opposed to the flat bottoms seen in most bowls.
The geometric patterns on the bowl flow seamlessly from top to bottom, each transitioning smoothly into the next. The bottom of the jar, a simple orange base, is the only part devoid of a geometric element. The piece is signed E. Cheromiah, Laguna, NM.

Throughout her career, Evelyn remained committed to traditional pottery making. She collected her own clay, used potsherds for temper, and employed mineral and vegetal paints for the designs. She also adhered to the traditional outdoor firing technique.

This bowl stands as a testament to Evelyn Cheromiah's exceptional talent and the enduring legacy of Laguna Pueblo pottery.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Evelyn Cheromiah Bowl with Tularosa Design is from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

TAGS: Laguna Pueblo, Lee Ann Cheromiah, Mary Cheromiah-Victorino, Modern Pueblo Pottery, Evelyn Cheromiah