Miniature Black Sgraffito Jar by Tse-Pé [SOLD]

Tse-Pé is generally known by his singular name. His mother was Rose Gonzales, the potter who introduced carved blackware pottery to San Ildefonso Pueblo. Tse-Pé followed the tradition of carved pottery, but chose sgraffito carving rather than the deep carving of past potters. In the early 1970s, Tse-Pé was among the first potters to participate in the sgraffito movement, along with Tony Da, Popovi Da, and Joseph Lonewolf.

Tse-Pé designed this miniature upright jar with the image of a Katsina, likely that of the Hanomana Katsina, that covers the front half of the jar. The back half is stone-polished black without decoration. Micaceous flakes are visible in the carved areas surrounding the Katsina image. The jar is signed in that very angular version of TP used by the artist. The item is not dated but is from the 1980s decade most probably. It still is in very good condition. There is no damage to the jar.