Santa Clara Pueblo 7 Piece Nacimiento [SOLD]

Santa Clara is not known for its figurative pottery but several potters from this pueblo have made nacimientos for years.  The figures are typically stone polished in the same fashion as the pottery.

Maria I. Naranjo is considered the first potter from Santa Clara pueblo to make nacimientos in blackware and originally made them in the Spanish style but started making them in the traditional Indian style in the 1960s.  Her figures are incredibly hand formed and precisely stone polished.  Although this set consists of seven figures, she has been known to make nacimientos consisting of ten to twelve pieces.  Each of the pieces from this set shows the careful attention to detail and the skill of this fine potter.  The human figures are in polished redware and the male has matte black hair in braids as opposed to a chongo which is typical at the pueblos.  The donkey, which is carrying a load of wood, and the cow are also in polished redware.  The lamb and the Christ Child, which is in a manger made of cactus wood, are in polished buff clay.  The various shades of red and buff really make this nacimiento a stunning set.

Condition:  very good condition

Provenance:  from a Santa Fe collector.

Recommended Reading:  Nacimientos by Guy and Doris Monthan