Santa Clara Pueblo 15 piece Black Nacimiento [SOLD]

Nacimiento is the Spanish word for a nativity scene or crèche. According to recorded information, the first Indian-made nacimientos appeared in the late 1950s. The artisans bring their own unique perspective to the traditional nativity scene—the figures are often dressed in traditional pueblo clothing and bring gifts such as corn, blankets, bread, chile, and sheep instead of gold, frankincense, and myrrh - a fragrant gum resin obtained from certain trees and used, especially in the Near East, in perfumery, medicines, and incense.

Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez are a husband and wife team living at Santa Clara Pueblo. Paul is the grandson of Lela and Van Gutierrez and the son of Luther Gutierrez, (of Margaret & Luther fame), all of Santa Clara Pueblo. Dorothy is Diné, and has been an active potter since the 1970s. She and Paul specialize in figurative pottery.

Paul and Dorothy make most of their pottery figurines in the black-on-black style, but have made red-on-buff style on occasion.  This 15-piece black-on-black nacimiento is typical of their work. It consists of the Holy Family, Three Kings, a Shephard, two Angels and many animals.  The slip was stone polished and portions left in a matte finish. The Three Kings bear gifts of pottery and ears of corn.

Paul and Dorothy work together but Dorothy’s name is the only one on the set.  Each piece was signed Dorothy Gutierrez.  Dorothy’s maiden name was Pinto. She is of Diné descent and was born in Gallup, New Mexico in 1940.  Though she had no early training in pottery making, her mother was an expert weaver and she was exposed to the traditional Navajo crafts.  After attending Torreon Day School on the reservation, she went to Haskell Institute at Lawrence, Kansas, and then the Indian School at Albuquerque.   She and Paul and their two sons live at Santa Clara Pueblo.

Paul and Dorothy were included in the book Nacimientos in 1979 when the first edition was published.  One of their red-on-buff nacimientos was included in full color.       

Condition: this Santa Clara Pueblo 15 piece Black Nacimiento is in original condition
Provenance: from the collection of a family from California         
Recommended Reading: Nacimientos: Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans by Guy and Doris Monthan