Santa Clara Small Red Melon Jar [SOLD]

Contemporary melon jars had their start at Santa Clara Pueblo sometime in the 1960s.  It is not known who was the first to make them but we know that Severa Tafoya (1890-1973), mother of Angela Baca, made them. Angela Baca (1927-2014) also made them and was probably the best known at the time for both black and red melon jars.  Later, Helen Shupla (1928-1985) made them.  Many other potters are now making versions of melon jars.

Angela Baca is still probably the best known for melon jars of the original style.  Helen Shupla’s melon jars were of a different style.  This small red melon jar is very traditionally an Angela Baca one.  The ribs are stone polished and the lines between ribs are in matte finish.  The melon ribs extend from the rim to the base.  The jar is signed Angela Baca on the underside.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Santa Fe

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