Stone Polished Black Jar from Santa Clara Pueblo [SOLD]

If there ever was a vessel shape that identified itself as Santa Clara Pueblo in origin, this is it. It is one of the most beautiful and graceful shapes of any Tewa wares. It has been attributed to Sara Fina Tafoya with good reason. It exhibits her hand in every respect—shape, quality, fluted neck, and dimpled mid-body. It was constructed of native Tewa clay and coil-formed in the traditional manner.

More than just attributes of her style, the jar has impeccable provenance—having been given to a Santa Fe family by Margaret Tafoya who said it was made by her mom.  We have the following hand written letter from the recipient.  It states the following:

March 30, 2015

My parents, Harold and Hilda Street owned the Taos Inn during the 1950s and 1960s.  They were collectors of Indian pottery and also sold pottery in the “curio shop” at the Taos Inn.  They both became very close to Margaret Tafoya at that time.  Margaret gave my parents this lovely piece of Serafina’s pottery.  Margaret wanted to give this to me and to my sister through my parents.

                                                                                                                                       Sincerely,

                                                                                                                                       Elizabeth Street McGorty

                                                                                                                                       Santa Fe

The entire vessel was slipped and stone polished and fired to a beautiful dark black. The high degree of polish is so very typical of Sara Fina’s work. The bottom is concave and the rim rolls out gracefully.  There is evidence that the jar was used as a water vessel in the past.

Condition:  structurally in excellent condition with some abrasion to the surface from use as a water jar.

Recommended Reading:  Born of Fire: The Pottery of Margaret Tafoya by Charles King.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the personal collection of Elizabeth Street McGorty (of the Steets of Taos), Santa Fe