Pair of Black Pottery Moccasin-style Candle Holders [SOLD]

Residents of Santa Fe were enchanted with their nearby Native residents of the pueblos of Santa Clara, Tesuque and San Ildefonso. Many Santa Feans decorated their homes with functional pueblo pottery items such as candlesticks, table lamps, salt and pepper shakers, napkin holders, etc. made by those local potters.  These items added a soft touch to otherwise rather sparse interiors of homes during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Pueblo potters continued making these home items well after the Depression and some are still being made today. This pair of candle holders was made by Rose Gonzales from San Ildefonso Pueblo, most likely in the 1950s or 1960s, another time of a resurgence of interest in such items. The theme of this pair is based on traditional pueblo moccasins.  Both of the candle holders are signed with the name Rose.

Condition: The pair is in very good condition. 

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and which was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose other name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.