Twentieth-century Santa Ana Pueblo Pottery Jar [SOLD]

The original location of Santa Ana Pueblo was close to Zia Pueblo and pottery from the two villages was quite similar in materials, technique and construction.  In the mid-1700s, the pueblo acquired land near Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque, for better farming.  This change in location effected a change in pottery as well.  Santa Ana abandoned using lava as a tempering agent and started using river sand found close to the new village, which they had named Ranchitos.  The old village is still maintained by a caretaker and is open for the annual feast day.

Potters at Santa Ana Pueblo apparently did not significantly benefit from the influx of tourists with the arrival of train transportation to New Mexico in 1880.  Perhaps they were busy with farming or working in town.  It was not until the World War II era that a few potters from there started selling pottery at Coronado State Monument near Albuquerque.  Even this did not last long.  By the mid-1970s, there was only one active potter at Santa Ana and she was Eudora Montoya.

Montoya singly revived pottery production at the pueblo in the 1970s by teaching classes to a group of 18 women.  This revival spurred interest in Santa Ana contemporary pottery; however that did not last long because most of the new potters did not continue production.  Once again, pottery from Santa Ana faded into history.  One of Montoya's former students—Elvira S. Montoya—instituted another revival in 1994, a revival that is still surviving, but barely.  At this time, I understand that there are only three active potters at Santa Ana.

Eudora Montoya was one of 19 potters selected in the early 1970s to go to Washington, D.C. to present pottery to Mrs. Richard M. Nixon at the White House.  One potter from each of the 19 active pueblos was selected for this honor.  She had begun making pottery around 1920 and continued, on and off, until the 1980s.

This jar is typical of Montoya's style.  She used the traditional Santa Ana design referred to today as the Eiffel Tower design.  She also was firm in following tradition by including ceremonial line breaks in all framing lines.  This jar is signed Eudora L. Montoya Santa Ana Pueblo.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading:  The Pottery of Santa Ana Pueblo by Harlow, Anderson and Lanmon

Provenance: from a gentleman living in Bernalillo, New Mexico