Carved Avanyu Red Water Jar by Belen Tapia

This carved water jar by Belen Tapia features a red polish and cream buff with an Avanyu design. The deeply carved decoration showcases her skill in achieving clean-cut designs on curved forms, while the flawless burnishing of the red slip highlights her craftsmanship. Tapia's expertise is evident in this piece's squat dimensions of 8" in height and 9" in diameter. The bottom is signed Belen Tapia Santa Clara Pueblo.

Santa Clara Pueblo artist Belen Tapia (1914-1999) was Sara Fina Tafoya's niece and Margaret Tafoya's first cousin. She had a long and productive life as a potter and achieved fame for her work. Mostly, she is recognized for her use of several color pigments in designs on her pottery, but she also produced traditional carved pottery of the style familiar to collectors.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Carved Avanyu Red Water Jar by Belen Tapia is from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Reference and Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Sara Fina Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya