Small Black Polished Jar with Dimple Impressions [SOLD]

Greg Garcia claims heritage to two Tewa Pueblos of New Mexico—Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh.  His mother was Lydia Tafoya of Santa Clara, daughter of Severa Tafoya.  His father was Santiago Garcia of Ohkay Owingeh.  Greg’s sisters are Tina Garcia and Virginia Garcia, both of whom are well-known potters.

Greg was inspired to become a potter by his grandmother, Severa Tafoya, who was the mother of five female potters of distinction.  He started working with the clay when he was only 14 years old.  He was taught to follow all traditional methods of pottery production—gathering and cleaning clay, processing clay and building with coils, stone polishing and outdoor firing.  He faithfully follows those traditions.

This excellent plain black polished jar is a great example to demonstrate Greg’s ability to achieve a perfect burnish, beautiful black firing, and a visual beauty with no decorations other than simple dimples surrounding the rim.

Condition: excellent original condition

Provenance:  from the collection of a family from Illinois which purchased it in 1992 from the Museum Shop of IAIA in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Santa Clara Pueblo by Betty LeFree