Miniature Wildlife Pictorial Polychrome Seed Jar [R]

As collectors are well aware, pottery making at the pueblos is and has always been a family affair. Males and females joined together to produce pottery. According to Margaret Tafoya, her brothers Camilio and Manuel joined her husband Alcario in digging clay for the entire family. From this early start, Camilio developed into a potter himself.

Earlier pottery produced by Camilio was traditional black carved wares. After his son, Joseph Lonewolf, started the intricately carved sgraffito style, Camilio followed his lead.

This exquisite small seed jar features two nature scenes—the head of a deer on one side of the jar and a flock of Mallard ducks in flight on the opposite side. Camilio demonstrated his familiarity with wildlife in this fine piece of art. The artistic detail of the animals and birds is well above average.

The jar is signed Camilio Santa Clara Pueblo on the underside. It is not dated, however, it is probably one of his earlier pieces because he later assigned a numbering system in the style used by his son Joseph Lonewolf. The jar is in excellent condition.

Provenance: From a private California collection.