Seated Female Mother and Child - Helen Cordero Attribution [SOLD]

Helen Cordero is known for pueblo pottery nacimientos as well as pottery storyteller figurines, but there seems to be some discrepancy as to when she made the first one.  “She made her first Nativity scene in 1970.” Monthan, 1979.  In the book on the Girard folk art collection at the Museum of International Folk Art, there is a nacimiento pictured in which the caption reads “Nativity by Helen Cordero . . . c. 1964.” Glassie, 1989.  I bring this up because Helen made the first storyteller figurine in 1964 and it is possible that she made the first nacimiento about the same time but it has always been my understanding that the first nacimiento was made in 1970.

Helen said she never made a female storyteller because it was made in honor of her grandfather, Santiago Quintana.  Any female figurines are known as Singing Mothers, not storytellers.  This figurine, female, holding an infant is without doubt an early Helen Cordero figurine and very well could be from a nacimiento set.  It resembles figurines in the Girard nacimiento.  The face, eyes, mouth and eyes, are identical to those in the Girard set.

Condition: very good condition

References:

- Monthan, Guy and Doris. Nacimientos: Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans. 1979.

- Glassie, Henry. The Spirit of Folk Art: The Girard Collection at the Museum of International Folk Art. 1989