Story Hour Figurine with 11 Children and Dogs by Helen Cordero [SOLD]

Occasionally—and very rarely—Cordero made a storyteller figurine with the children sitting around the adult figure rather that adhering to the adult. She called these figurines Story Hour. Of course, they are still storytellers, but she designated them with a specific name.

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. The date or even time period, when she made the first Story Hour is not known, but it was later in her career.

This new creation of hers is another example of how creative she was. For a potter who said she was unable to make a vessel shape, she certainly found her calling when she started making figurine shapes.

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

Condition: The condition of the adult figurine and the 11 separate smaller pieces is excellent, meaning that is no damage or repair visible. The male adult’s shirt seems to have been touched up with orange paint after firing, but this is not certain. There is the slightest slip crack on the adult’s upper lip but this appears to be original to the piece from the time it was made.

Provenance: Purchased from Gallery 10 in 1982.