Santa Clara Pueblo Black Bear Paw Jar [SOLD]

Severa Tafoya never received the publicity she should have. She 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 was Angela Baca, known for her melon jars.  Some of her grandchildren are Tina, Greg and Virginia Garcia; Paul Speckled Rock and Ray Tafoya.  Her legacy lives on.

This beautifully formed traditional Tewa bear-paw jar is typical of her fine work.  The shape is as near perfect as a hand-made jar could be and the burnishing is highly reflective.  A deep black sheen developed from a successful firing. 

Condition: only a minimum of scratches and professional touch-up on one abrasion.

Provenance: from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

Recommended Reading:  Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf