Tesuque Pueblo Pottery Polychrome Storyteller with 4 Children [SOLD]

Manuel Vigil is probably the best-known potter of the 20^th century from Tesuque Pueblo. He learned to make pottery by the age of seven by watching his mother make pottery. He specialized throughout his career in making figurine pieces. He is credited with being the first Native American to make ceramic Nacimientos (Nativity sets). Pueblo dance figures were a favorite of his. Later, he made storyteller figurines.

In his storyteller figurines, he painted them with acrylic paints after the firing process and he glued rabbit fur to their heads for hair. This storyteller figurine is typical of those he made in the later part of his career.

Following an accident in 1948, when a hit-and-run driver ran over him, Manuel lost one leg to amputation. His wife, Vicenta, encouraged him to get back into arts and crafts while he recuperated. He and Vicenta started making pottery together. He would make figurines of pueblo dancers and she would paint them and even make clothing for them. They continued this collaborative effort throughout the remainder of his life.

Condition: very good condition with repair to one leg on back of figurine

Provenance: from the collection of Chuck and Jan Rosenak, collectors of Native art and authors of books on Navajo folk art.

Recommended Reading: The Pueblo Storyteller by Barbara Babcock