Santa Clara Pueblo Micaceous Large Pottery Jar by Rose Naranjo [SOLD]

Santa Clara Pueblo artist Rose Naranjo constructed this large micaceous storage jar with handles using traditional micaceous clay, although it was not made during her time at Taos.  She continued working with micaceous clay even after moving to Santa Clara Pueblo.  The jar is of the vessel shape of early storage jars, for use of storage of any dry items.  These generally were not used for storage of water or other liquids. The jar is bulbous with a short upright neck that rolls outward just so slightly.  It has a pair of handles at mid body. The natural micaceous clay, which requires no tempering agent, was stone polished in it pure state. There are no designs to detract from the beauty of the vessel shape.

Since 1984, the City of Santa Fe has bestowed the honor of "Santa Fe Living Treasures" on a select number of deserving individuals.  In 1994, the city bestowed that honor on Rose Naranjo, potter from Santa Clara Pueblo. Rose Naranjo was born in 1917, married Michael Naranjo, a Southern Baptist minister, when she was 18, and, for the next 27 years they lived at Taos which is where she learned to make micaceous pottery of the Taos Pueblo style.

In 1954, Rose Naranjo and her family moved from Santa Clara Pueblo to Taos where Rose's husband was a Baptist minister of a small congregation of Taos Indians. "During those years in Taos, Rose Naranjo supplemented the family income by making pottery to sell, using the most accessible material: micaceous clay. . . .Rose Naranjo made and polished the pots, which her (husband) decorated with incised designs and fired." Anderson, 1999:86

Among her children and grandchildren are Jody Folwell, Michael Naranjo, Rina Swentzell, Nora Naranjo-Morse, Susan Folwell, Roxanne Swentzell and others, all of whom are accomplished artists.

Rose Naranjo (1915-2004) was one of the artists included in the exhibit "Lost and Found Traditions: Native American Art 1965-1985" organized by the American Federation of Arts.

Condition: this Santa Clara Pueblo Micaceous Large Pottery Jar by Rose Naranjo is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: ex. coll. Frances Sonnenberg, Santa Fe resident.  Now from the collection of a client from the east coast to whom we sold it in 2011, and who is now downsizing and moving to an assisted living facility.

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies, C. 1800-Present by Gregory and Angie Schaaf

Reference: Anderson, Duane. All That Glitters: The Emergence of Native American Micaceous Art Pottery in Northern New Mexico, 1999

Relative Links: Rose Naranjo, Santa Clara Pueblo, Contemporary Pottery, Taos Pueblo, Santa Fe, Jody Folwell, Polly Rose Folwell, Susan Folwell