Maxine Toya Seven Piece Jemez Pueblo Nacimiento [SOLD]

This is a highly distinct nacimiento set created by prominent Jemez Pueblo potter Maxine Toya. Fashioned in her usual style, the set features figures grouped together around the manger, with Mary holding baby Jesus. An angel appears behind the manger as well as a sheep, a donkey, and the three wise men who are also grouped together. Lastly, typical for a nativity set made by Maxine, the little drummer boy appears as well.

The design on this set is absolutely spectacular. Maxine paid extreme attention to detail and added many wonderful touches throughout the scene. On Mary and Joseph, there are corn stalks on each of their gowns as well as one on Mary's right side. Corn is an extremely sacred crop to Pueblo Native Americans. Each of the figures has very finely painted patterns on their clothing and on their accessories. The angel has wings featuring Jemez styled motifs, the motifs which appear themselves to be depicting wings.

The texture of each figure is quite pleasing as well. Each piece has a very smooth red portion, usually part of the clothing, while the other parts of the pieces are beige, matt textures. The sheep is unique in color and texture, as it is the only white piece and feels slightly different to the touch than the others.

The bottom of the set is signed Maxine Toya, Jemez with a cornstalk logo next to her name.

Maxine Gachupin Toya (1948- ), Jemez Pueblo, comes from a prolific pottery-making family. Her grandmother, Persingula Gachupin (ca.1910-1994), was highly respected as an outstanding potter, as was her mother, Marie G. Romero (1927-2007), and her sister, Laura Gachupin (b 1954).

"Maxine began her formal education at Jemez Village Day School. She was fortunate to study under Natachee Scott and N. Scott Momaday, the noted Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The young Jemez student excelled and continued through a successful college career. She then became an elementary school teacher. Maxine is a prominent educator. She has touched the lives of many Jemez children, introducing several to pottery making.

"Maxine advanced as a top award-winning artist. She exhibited widely and was well received. She is talented in many forms of art. She is particularly adept at modeling native clay figures and painting them with colorful slips." Schaaf, 2002.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Maxine Toya Seven Piece Jemez Pueblo Nacimiento is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Jemez Pueblo, Persingula Gachupin, Marie G. Romero, Southwest Indian Pottery, Maxine Gachupin Toya