Adobe Gallery Blog
Subject: Santa Clara Pueblo Red Carved Canteen with Stopper
![Starting sometime in the early 1950s, Margaret Tafoya made smaller bowls, jars, candlesticks and canteens for sale to tourists visiting the pueblo as well as to take to Royal Gorge for the summer. She and her family spent their summers—from Memorial Day to Labor Day—at the Royal Gorge near Canon City, Colorado, selling pottery and entertaining the tourists with dances and permitting them to photograph the family members—all for a fee. She had made enough pottery before going to Royal Gorge to take with her to sell. She did not make pottery on site. It was during the 1950s that pueblo pottery underwent a revival in interest by collectors and tourists. Following the lean years of World War II, both from a buyer's standpoint and that of the seller, as well, the 1950s saw a renaissance. Americans had sacrificed during the war, skimping and saving for the war effort and now gasoline and tires were again available and travel was possible. The Southwest was once again of interest and New Mexico saw a tremendous influx of tourists willing and anxious to purchase souvenirs to take back home. Fortunately for the pueblo potters, there was great interest in their pottery. This small red carved canteen with a wood stopper is typical of many that found their way out of the Southwest and into collections from coast to coast. It is a marvelous canteen and is beautifully designed with a stylized bird on one side and a kiva step design on the opposite. A leather strap is inserted into the loop handles and a wood stopper is provided for the opening. Condition: original condition with one minor scratch Provenance: from a family estate from Kentucky Recommended Reading: Born of Fire: The Pottery of Margaret Tafoya [SOLD] by Charles King](https://www.adobegallery.com/uploads/C3379C-thumb.jpg "Santa Clara Pueblo Red Carved Canteen with Stopper")
Starting sometime in the early 1950s, Margaret Tafoya made smaller bowls, jars, candlesticks and canteens for sale to tourists visiting the pueblo as well as to take to Royal Gorge for the summer. She and her family spent their summers-from Memorial Day to Labor Day-at the Royal Gorge near Canon City, Colorado, selling pottery and entertaining the tourists with dances and permitting them to photograph the family members-all for a fee. She had made enough pottery before going to Royal Gorge to take with her to sell. She did not make pottery on site.
It was during the 1950s that pueblo pottery underwent a revival in interest by collectors and tourists. Following the lean years of World War II, both from a buyer's standpoint and that of the seller, as well, the 1950s saw a renaissance. Americans had sacrificed during the war, skimping and saving for the war effort and now gasoline and tires were again available and travel was possible.
The Southwest was once again of interest and New Mexico saw a tremendous influx of tourists willing and anxious to purchase souvenirs to take back home. Fortunately for the pueblo potters, there was great interest in their pottery.
This small red carved canteen with a wood stopper is typical of many that found their way out of the Southwest and into collections from coast to coast. It is a marvelous canteen and is beautifully designed with a stylized bird on one side and a kiva step design on the opposite. A leather strap is inserted into the loop handles and a wood stopper is provided for the opening.
Condition: original condition with one minor scratch
Provenance: from a family estate from Kentucky
Recommended Reading: Born of Fire: The Pottery of Margaret Tafoya by Charles King
Subject: Santa Clara Pueblo Red Carved Canteen with Stopper
Artist / Potter: Margaret Maria Tafoya 1904-2001
Category: Contemporary
Origin: Santa Clara Pueblo
Medium: clay, leather, wood
Size: 4-1/4" tall without stopper x 5-3/8" wide
Item # C3379C