Santa Clara Pueblo Carved Avanyu Polished Black Pottery Jar by Mary Cain [SOLD]

This spectacular pottery jar was made by Mary Cain of Santa Clara Pueblo. This jar is typical of the extraordinary pottery made by Mary in the 1980s.  It is not dated but the size of the jar and the beautiful design and burnish are typical of Mary’s work of that time. There is one of Mary Cain’s business cards in the jar, an indication, perhaps, that the previous owners purchased it directly from Mary Cain.

The lower half of the jar is without carved design but is highly burnished.  The upper half features the favored Avanyu design, with lightning coming from its mouth.  Legend has it that the Avanyu water serpent lives under the acequia and emerges when it is time for water to flow in the acequia to the crops.  

This is an extraordinary work of art by Mary Cain (1916-2010), whose Tewa name was Blue Rain, and who was a granddaughter of Sara Fina Tafoya, daughter of Christina Naranjo, and the grandmother of famous Santa Clara artist Tammy Garcia.  The carving is precise, and the burnishing is flawless.  Mary even polished the bottom of the jar where she signed her name.  There is no doubt that it is one of the best Mary Cain ever made.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Santa Clara Pueblo Carved Avanyu Polished Black Pottery Jar by Mary Cain is from the estate of a family from New Mexico

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Photography: Andrew Southard

Relative Links: Santa Clara Pueblo, Sara Fina Tafoya, Christina Naranjo, Tammy Garcia, Linda Cain, Mary Cain, Santa Clara Pueblo Potter