Pair of Camilio Tafoya Black Carved Lamps [SOLD]

Sara Fina and Geronimo Tafoya had a number of children.  Best known, of course, is Margaret, but, before Margaret, there were Tomasita (c.1884-1918), Juan Isidro (c.1888 -1952), Camilio (1902-1995), Manuel (1890-1958), Christina (1891-1980), Dolorita (1897-1960), Pauline (1900-1914) and, then, Margaret (1904-2001).  

Camilio Sunflower Tafoya was the youngest of the male children.  His main interest in his younger years was agriculture.  It was not until his later years that he developed an interest in making pottery.  His early works were traditional Tafoya family pottery styles—black carved wedding vases and tall-neck jars.  Later, working with his children—Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf—he became famous for delicate incised pottery, referred to as sgraffito. Blair 1986, 62

Camilio made traditional blackware pottery in the mid-twentieth century.  That is likely when these two matching jars were made. They were not made as lamp bases but were drilled on the sidewalls at the base of each to be converted to lamps.  Both are signed with his name but the signatures are faint and nearly worn off but still discernible.

Converting pueblo pottery jars to lamp bases was popular in the 1950s and into the 1960s and 1970s.  Normally, cowhide shades were used for the lamps, but a very talented designer chose to use black shades with this pair, and they work beautifully with the black pottery.  Black shades do greatly reduce the light but would be perfect for use as soft bedside lights. Of course, the shades are changeable should one with to do so.

Condition: this Pair of Camilio Tafoya Black Carved Lamps is in very good condition overall

Provenance: from a gentleman in Santa Fe

Reference: Mary Ellen and Laurence Blair. Margaret Tafoya - a Tewa Potter’s Heritage and Legacy, 1986.