Black Carved Pair of Candle Holders [SOLD]

This pair of candleholders has a carved stem and a base shaped with kiva steps on the front and a handle on the back.  The carved design on the stem reinforces the stepped design on the pedestal.

Rose Cata Gonzales (1900-1989) was originally from Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan) Pueblo. After she married Robert Gonzales of San Ildefonso Pueblo she moved there with him. Rose was a sister of Pomasena Sanchez. She was the mother of Jose H. Rainbird Gonzales, Tse-Pé Gonzales, and Marie Gonzales Yazzie.

Rose learned pottery making from Ramona Sanchez Gonzales, her mother-in-law. Rose's parents died from the swine flu epidemic of 1918, leaving Rose and her sister Pomasena orphaned. The girls survived by staying at the Santa Fe Indian School. Mary Cata, a relative, adopted and cared for the girls.  After marriage, Rose lived at San Ildefosno for the remainder of her life.

Rose shared her knowledge of the processes of pottery production with Juanita Archuleta Gonzales, formerly of Taos Pueblo, when she married Luis Wo-Peen Gonzales and moved to San Ildefonso with her new husband.  Juanita Wo-Peen Gonzales made black carved pottery since she had learned from Rose, who made carved wares.

Condition: very good condition with a couple very minor chips on and near the pedestal - red candle residue from actual use is evident in both of the candlesticks.

Provenance: this Black Carved Pair of Candle Holders is from the collection of a Santa Fe family

Recommended Reading:  Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Photo of Rose Gonzales by T. Harmon Parkhurst, Courtesy of Museum of New Mexico and Gregory Schaaf.