Exquisitely Polished Santa Clara Redware Jar [SOLD]

This carved redware jar was made by Santa Clara Pueblo artist Mary Ester Archuleta. Though she may not have been as prolific, Archuleta's skills clearly matched those of her better-known sisters. Hopefully, we will acquire more of her works in the future.

With this piece, Archuleta offers a piece that exhibits the influence of both her native Santa Clara and San Juan, the pueblo she married into. It's a carved redware piece with an appealing shape. Two instances of a carved design appear on opposite sides, and a tan matte tone covers the interior of the carved sections. The red and tan tones complement each other beautifully, and Archuleta did an excellent job with the stone polished exterior, leaving a deep and glossy finish. We are pleased to offer a piece by another of the many talented daughters of Margaret Tafoya.

The bottom of the pot is signed Mary E. Archuleta.

Mary Ester Archuleta (1942- ) is a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and the sister of LuAnn Tafoya, Toni Roller, Virginia Ebelacker, Jennie Trammel and Mela Youngblood. She married into San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay Owingeh) and participated in the revival of the San Juan incised pottery in the 1970s. Although she was not a prolific potter, she won multiple first prize awards at Santa Fe Indian Market in the 1970s. She preferred making redware pottery and was known for her amazing polished finish. Prize winning potter Linda Tafoya-Sanchez credits Archuleta, her aunt, with teaching her the fine art of pottery making.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Exquisitely Polished Santa Clara Redware Jar is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Linda Tafoya-Sanchez, Margaret Tafoya, LuAnn Tafoya, Toni Roller, Virginia Ebelacker, Jennie Trammel, Mela Youngblood, Mary Ester Archuleta