Cochiti Pueblo Male Pueblo Father Figurine by Helen Cordero [R]

Helen Cordero was truly an original artist. She is recognized along with potters Maria Martinez and Nampeyo of Hano.

Each of these matriarchs of the pueblo world deserves credit for bringing to the attention of collectors something unique and beautiful. All collectors are indeed indebted to them for their creative genius.

Cordero made figurative pottery and first exhibited hers at a Santo Domingo Pueblo feast day in the early 1960s. Architect and folk art collector, Alexander Girard, bought all the pieces and encouraged her to make more and bring them to him. He encouraged her to add more children to the pieces and to make larger pieces. When thinking this over, she remembered her grandfather and made an image in his honor with a number of children climbing over him. This was the beginning of the storyteller figurine.

Helen also made other figurines. She made female figurines with Hopi hairstyles, turtles with children on their backs, animals, nacimientos, and female figures with pottery jars on their heads, standing and seated males, and female figures with children.

This seated male figure is dressed in traditional pueblo clothing, including moccasins. The serape over his shirt is elaborately decorated with Cochiti pottery designs. This is one of the most elaborately decorated pieces in memory. It was made in 1974, a period recognized as Cordero’s finest. It is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: ex coll Dennis and Janis Lyon. Published in Art and Indian Individualists by Guy and Doris Monthan, page 25. Northland Press, Flagstaff. 1975.