This is an extraordinary stone-polished black carved jar by Margaret Tafoya of the Santa Clara Pueblo. This magnificent early piece, was coil formed in native clay over which was applied a red slip then painstakingly burnished with a polishing stone and fired in a reduction firing resulting in a beautiful black finish. The jar features an Avanyu design motif carved into the middle portion of the body including various curves, triangles and other geometrics. The remainder of the jar displays a captivating high burnished exterior and attractive shape.

Margaret Tafoya of the Santa Clara Pueblo has been instrumental in bringing about the evolution of pottery design in her village. In the early 1920s, she and her husband, Alcario, were the first to adapt Maria and Julian Martinez’s black-on-black and buff-on-red styles, but they carved, rather than painted designs onto the surface of the vessel. Margaret has long been recognized for her ability to make very large, perfectly symmetrical jars of the type once used by the pueblo people for storage. Tafoya’s work has become synonymous with her village as her seven daughters and other residents have incorporated her techniques and emulated her style in their own works, transforming her innovations into traditions.

16″ height
12″ width

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