Black Polished Jar with Three Bear Paw Indentations [SOLD]

Black pottery from the northern New Mexico Tewa Pueblos has existed for a thousand or more years but it was brought into the realm of fine art in the 20^th century.  Pre-20^th century black pottery was functional, fired to a harder temper and generally not decorated.  When 20^th century potters discovered an interest in black pottery in the 1920s, they began to be more particular about vessel shape, smaller sizes, higher burnish and overall improved appearance.  Various designs were added to enhance the interest of collectors.  One of the popular designs used at Santa Clara Pueblo was the bear paw—frequently used by Sara Fina Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya and family, and Severa Tafoya and family.

This round jar was beautifully fashioned into the shape of a melon and burnished to a brilliant sheen.  Three bear paw impressions were imbedded into the clay on the upper half of the vessel.  Legend has it that a bear can always find water so putting a bear paw on a water jar will insure it will never be empty of water.

Severa Tafoya was an extraordinary potter during the 1950s and 1960s, but pottery was not in the mainstream then as it is now. Had today's collectors been collecting pottery in the mid-1900s, she would have been high on their list. Very few collectors today know who she was and how fine her pottery is.  She was an active potter for almost 60 years.

Severa was a Gutierrez before her marriage. She was a sister to Van Gutierrez, of the Lela and Van couple.  One of her daughters wasAngela Baca, known for her melon jars.  Some of her grandchildren are Tina, Greg and Virginia Garcia; Paul Speckled Rock andRay Tafoya.  Her legacy lives on.

Condition:  very good condition

Recommended Reading:  Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from a family from Santa Fe who is beginning to downsize its very large collection of pottery and paintings by New Mexico Native artists.