Santa Clara Pueblo Carved Jar with Avanyu Design [SOLD]

Teresita Tafoya Naranjo (1919-1999) Apple Blossom - Bay-Po-Vi  was the daughter of Christina Naranjo and granddaughter of Sara Fina Tafoya.  She has been acknowledged as one of the finest 20th century potters at Santa Clara Pueblo. Her unexpected death in 1999 was a loss to all pottery collectors.

She was active from 1935 to 1999 and was known for her black and redware carved works in the Santa Clara style.  After her husband's passing in 1950, she supported her family solely through sales of her pottery.

Teresita was a perfectionist in her work and would not even consider taking shortcuts in forming, polishing or carving pottery.  Every vessel she made was as perfect as could be made.  The burnishing on this jar is evidence of her talent with a polishing stone and the carving of the Avanyu head and body illustrates her preciseness with the knife.  Every edge of the carved serpent is clean and smooth. 

Teresita was proud of her pottery accomplishments and was firm on her pricing.  She sold only from her own home, not through a gallery, and was not interested in discounting her work to a dealer—something I experienced over and over.  It was best to just pay her price and be over with it.  She was a charming person and an astute business woman. 

This jar is an excellent example of her later work.  Teresita’s designs got more and more intricate as she got older and pottery such as this one is far superior to pre-1980s examples.  This is an exceptional jar.

Condition:  original condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Albuquerque

Recommended Reading: Teresita was one of three potters interviewed and published in Santa Clara Pottery Today by Betty LeFree.