Black Bear 7-piece Nacimiento [SOLD]

Cochiti Pueblo has a long history of producing figurative pottery. It reached its prime in the last quarter of the 19^th century and the first quarter of the 20^th century. There was a strong revival in the early 1970s with the production of storyteller figurines. At about the same time, potters began making nativity sets or Nacimientos as they are known in the Southwest.

When the Nacimientos book was first published in 1979, there were the works of only 15 pueblo potters included, of which there were only 5 from Cochiti Pueblo. Seferina was not one of this group, but was included in the back of the book in a list of three additional potters known for making sets.

Had the authors known how creative Seferina was, surely she would have been the star of the book. As an illustration of her creativity, this 7-piece nacimiento is totally rendered in black bears. It includes the Holy Family and three Kings—all of whom are bears. Surely there has never been a more creative rendition of the nacimiento.