Adobe Gallery Blog
Black Polished Jar with Three Bear Paw Indentations by Severa Gutierrez Tafoya - C3771F
Black pottery from the northern New Mexico Tewa Pueblos has existed for a thousand or more years but it was brought into the realm of fine art in the 20thcentury. Pre-20th century black pottery was functional, fired to a harder temper and generally not decorated. When 20th century potters discovered an interest in black pottery in the 1920s, they began to be more particular about vessel shape, smaller sizes, higher burnish and overall improved appearance. Various designs were added to enhance the interest of collectors. One of the popular designs used at Santa Clara Pueblo was the bear paw-frequently used by Sara Fina Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya and family, and Severa Tafoya and family.
This round jar was beautifully fashioned into the shape of a melon and burnished to a brilliant sheen. Three bear paw impressions were imbedded into the clay on the upper half of the vessel. Legend has it that a bear can always find water so putting a bear paw on a water jar will insure it will never be empty of water.