Adobe Gallery Blog

Dolores Curran, originally from Santa Clara Pueblo, married and moved to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo around 1977. She has specialized in miniature pottery since her first piece at age 9. Her designs are each original to the piece of pottery on which she is working. She does not record her designs because she doesn't want to start copying herself. She prefers to fit each design to the pot on which it goes.

This exquisite small jar is a miniature version of a storage jar. The exception to that would be the lid as a standard storage jar would generally not have a lid. In her incomparable fashion, she reversed the normal pattern of burnishing the entire jar and then painting a design in matte paint. Here she has left the entire jar in matte finish except for the burnished rim and base and the top of the lid. Her designs were carved with the utmost care and precision. Dolores stated that she applies as many as five coats of slip to each design. In her scale of work, she is unmatched by any others.

Dolores Curran and Geri Naranjo are sisters and both work in miniature scale. Dolores's daughter, Ursula Curran, also makes miniature pottery. The entire family is very talented.

Condition: new

Provenance: from the potter through an intermediary

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Subject: Santa Clara Matte Black Lidded Jar
Artist / Potter: Dolores Curran
Category: Contemporary
Origin: Santa Clara Pueblo
Medium: clay
Size: 3-3/4" tall without lid; 5-1/4" tall with lid; 3-3/4" diameter
Item # C3369E