Large Black Carved Jar with Micaceous Bands by Linda Tafoya Sanchez [SOLD]

Immerse yourself in the captivating allure of this exquisite blackware jar, a testament to the masterful craftsmanship of Linda Tafoya Sanchez, a distinguished potter from Santa Clara Pueblo. The jar's design is a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, showcasing a globular body crowned with a gracefully tall neck.

The lower body of the jar is a canvas for intricate swirling designs, accentuated by hooks at their ends, adding depth and texture to the piece. Rising above this base, designs become geometric-triangular, stepped, and vertical-their silhouettes striking against a matte backdrop. This design is elegantly separated from the neck design by another set of narrow parallel swirling positioned in vertical arrangement from the lower base designs, creating a visual rhythm that guides the viewer's gaze upwards. The three design sections are divided by black micaceous bands. The design's continuity reflects the thoughtful attention to detail that is a hallmark of Sanchez's work.

Linda Tafoya Sanchez, a proud member of the renowned Tafoya family of Santa Clara Pueblo, has garnered numerous accolades throughout her innovative pottery career. This highly burnished black jar stands as a shining example of her consistent display of exceptional talent, a tangible embodiment of her artistic vision and mastery. It is not just a piece of pottery, but a narrative of cultural heritage and personal expression, skillfully shaped by the hands of a master artisan.

This brand-new, elegantly polished piece of blackware pottery was personally delivered to Adobe Gallery by Linda Tafoya Sanchez on December 19, 2025. The jar, offered directly by the artist, bears her signature on the bottom, affirming its authenticity.

Born in 1962, Linda Tafoya Sanchez initially signed her pottery as Linda Tafoya Oyenque, but now uses Linda Tafoya Sanchez. Despite the change in signature, the beauty of her pottery remains unchanged. As the daughter of Lee and Betty Tafoya and granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya, Linda credits her aunt, Mary Esther Archuleta, for her pottery training. The family's matriarch, Sara Fina Tafoya, appears to have set the standard for the family's production of stunning black pottery. Linda's work has been recognized with numerous awards at events such as the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market.

Condition: new

Provenance: this Large Black Carved Jar with Micaceous Bands by Linda Tafoya Sanchez is direct from the artist

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Lee and Betty Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya, Contemporary Southwest Indian Pottery, Linda Tafoya Sanchez, Mary Ester Archuleta