Santa Clara Pueblo Round Jar with Green Slip [SOLD]

Art Cody (1943-1985) Arthur Haungooah was the grandson of the famous Kiowa medicine man and scout James Haungooah, also known as Silverhorn (1861-1941). The first Haungooah became famous in the 19th century for his fantastic ledger drawings of life on the Southern Plains.

The second Haungooah married Martha Suazo of Santa Clara Pueblo in 1972. She was a potter and encouraged him to decorate her work. He became an outstanding decorator of miniature pottery. He was one of the early artists to perfect the sgraffito style of carving.  Eventually, he moved from designing others' pottery to making his own.

In 1979, Pierre Cardin recognized him and his wife, Martha, for their artistic excellence. The famous French designer organized a European tour, which showcased their work.

Haungooah met with tragedy when a head-on automobile collision took his life in 1985 at age 42.

This round seed jar is one of Haungooah’s masterpieces executed in red and green slips.  The lower 2/3^rd of the jar was slipped in natural green clay and the upper 1/3^rd slipped in red clay.  Portions of each were then meticulously carved away to reveal the design desired by the artist.  There is a Mimbres human figure on top of the jar with an animal on his lap and one on his arm. A partial Mimbres face and a bear appear in the green slip.  There are a multitude of other designs over the jar.  The detail is amazing.  The jar is signed A H. 

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Provenance: from a family from Santa Fe who is beginning to downsize its very large collection of pottery and paintings by New Mexico Native artists.