Santa Clara Black Jar with Sgraffito “Gathering of the Buffalo” [SOLD]

Everyone is familiar with the potter Elmer Red Starr from Santa Clara Pueblo who has been producing pottery with sgraffito designs since before 1976.  Elmer Red Starr is a Sioux Indian who married into Santa Clara Pueblo and resides there.  Norman Red Star is a Lakota Sioux, cousin of Elmer Red Starr, and is also a potter producing Santa Clara pottery with sgraffito designs.

This large black jar is inscribed throughout with beautiful imagery of American Bison.  One image is of two large bulls facing each other as if fighting for control of the herd of females.  Other images are bison in various locations and positions.  There is a row of 8 bison at the rim, all running in line, and a similar row near the bottom of the jar.  There are 26 bison inscribed on the jar.

This is a magnificent pictorial jar that was carefully executed in design.  Small turquoise cabs were inserted in three rows—one at the rim, one above the main body designs and one below.

Condition: new

Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Southwest: Ancient Art and Modern Traditions by Allan & Carol Hayes.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the artist