Ethel Shields, Acoma Pueblo Potter

Acoma Pueblo artist Ethel Shields is from the Yellow Corn Clan. She was active since 1938. She is known for her traditional polychrome and Mimbres Revival jars, bowls, effigy pots, effigy canteens, Storytellers, Nativities or Nacimientos, pottery figures, Christmas ornaments, and miniatures.

Ethel Shields (1926 - ) is the granddaughter of Josephita Sandoval and Joe A. Sandoval; daughter of Toribio and Dolores S. Sanchez; sister of Katherine Lewis; aunt of Judy Lewis; wife of Don Shields; Mother of 8 children including Charmae Natseway, Chris Shields; mother-in-law of Judy Shields and Verda Mae Shields and Thomas Natseway. Ethel attended Albuquerque Indian School and she learn pottery making from her mother Dolores S. Sanchez. Ethel is famous for her Nativity sets, but she began making traditional pottery three decades earlier.

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Judy Lewis, Thomas Natseway, Albuquerque