Helen Cordero made the first storyteller figurine in 1964 as a tribute to her grandfather who was a storyteller at the pueblo. Alexander Girard, the great folk art collector, encouraged her to make more by purchasing all she made in the early days.

Since the figurine was in tribute to her grandfather, all of Helen’s storyteller figurines are male. She never made a female storyteller. A female figurine of hers is called a Singing Mother. Helen used to say that the other potters who made female storyteller figurines didn’t understand her intent.

This figurine is a testament to Helen’s talent, even at the end of her career. It was probably made in the mid-1980s. It is beautifully sculpted and painted. The children are arranged on the adult’s legs—two on one and three on the other.

It has a marvelous patina that fits with its age. It is signed Helen Cordero Cochiti, N.Mex.

Note: click on second detail image above to view the back of the storyteller and the signature.

Item Provenance:
This item was presented in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's special exhibit “TIMELESS BEAUTY” in Albuquerque, New Mexico, January-August 2008. This exhibition celebrated the achievements and impact made by some of the most renowned Pueblo women artists on the preservation, exposure, and development of the indigenous and contemporary art forms of Pueblo people. Curated by the IPCC in collaboration with Santa Fe-based Adobe Gallery and the School for Advanced Research, “TIMELESS BEAUTY” showcased a collaborative collection of artwork created by these influential women.

Recommended Reading: The Pueblo Story Teller: Development of a Figurative Ceramic Tradition (click here to view details of book) by Barbara Babcock, et al. (Available from Adobe Gallery)