Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Miniature Nacimiento by Dorothy and Paul Gutierrez [SOLD]

The Santa Clara Pueblo artists Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez worked together on this nativity scene which includes two kneeling angels, two sheep, a donkey, and a cow.  The central figures are, as always, Mary and Joseph, both kneeling with hands drawn together in prayer over a swaddled baby Jesus.  Each figurine has a portion selected and hand stone polished, while the other elements remain matte.  

Santa Clara Pueblo is one of the northern pueblos with a wonderful iron rich clay that when deprived of oxygen in the firing process, will undergo a chemical change and turn from red to black.  This blackware has become well-loved and is special amongst pueblo pottery.  Even more rare is to have a miniature nacimiento made in this form.  

Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez were a husband-and-wife pottery making team living at Santa Clara Pueblo. They were specialists at making figurative pottery.  Paul was the grandson of Lela and Van Gutierrez, and the son of Luther Gutierrez, (of Margaret & Luther fame), all of Santa Clara Pueblo. Dorothy was Diné and an active potter since the 1970s.

Condition: excellent

Provenance: this Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Miniature Nacimiento by Dorothy and Paul Gutierrez is from a private collection from a Midwest client

Reference: Nacimientos, Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans by Guy and Doris Monthan

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Santa Clara Pueblo, nacimientos, Paul and Dorothy Gutierrez, Santa Clara Pueblo Potters