Micaceous Clay Lidded Bean Pot by Virginia Romero

Simple and humble in form, this lidded bean pot by Virginia Romero features two striking areas of fire clouds: one on the bottom of the lid and one on the base of the pot, where the mica in the clay gleams through the fire clouds. The handle design is straightforward and efficient, with matching handles on both the lid and the pot. The lid is secured by four small ledges on the inner rim, which align symmetrically with the handles, making the arrangement of these functional elements both purposeful and visually pleasing.

The bottom of the lidded pot is signed Virginia T. Romero, Taos Pueblo, NM 1981.

Virginia T. Romero (1898-1998), also known as Pop Tő (Flower House), was a distinguished Taos Pueblo potter dedicated to preserving the Taos Pueblo micaceous pottery tradition. A student at the Santa Fe Indian School in the early 1900s, Romero began her pottery career in 1919 and continued her craft until her passing in 1998 at the age of 100. Her work is celebrated and included in many prominent museum collections. Romero's cultural contributions have been honored by the Millicent Rogers Museum and the State of New Mexico.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Micaceous Clay Lidded Bean Pot by Virginia Romero is from the estate of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading: All That Glitters: The Emergence of Native American Micaceous Art Pottery in Northern New Mexico by Duane Anderson

TAGS: Taos Pueblo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Virginia Romero