Santa Clara Red Carved Jar by Agapita Tafoya [SOLD]

Some families just seem to be talented beyond the ordinary.  That is particularly true with the children and their spouses of Sara Fina and Geronimo Tafoya of Santa Clara Pueblo.  Their children, Tomasita Naranjo (1884-1918), Christina Naranjo (1891-1980), Manuel Tafoya (1895-1952), Dolorita Padilla (1897-1960), Camilio Tafoya (1902-1995), and Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) were all recognized potters of exceptional talent.

Agapita Tafoya was the wife of Camilio Tafoya and they were the parents of Joseph Lonewolf and Grace Medicine Flower.  Agapita was an active potter in the first half of the twentieth century at a time when pottery was always made in the traditional manner and deviation from tradition was not even considered. 

This red slipped jar is traditional to Santa Clara style at the time of its completion in the 1950s or earlier.   The background of the red-slipped design was over-painted with earth-colored clay and the red slip was stone polished to a fine sheen.

Condition:  The jar is in original condition

Provenance:  ex. coll. Santa Fe resident who purchased it in 1970 in Santa Monica, CA