Carved Blackware Pottery Jar by Sharon Naranjo Garcia

This carved blackware jar was created by Santa Clara artist Sharon Naranjo Garcia. With a wide shoulder and short, raised rim, the jar's form is like that of a functional pueblo olla. The notable difference is size—this piece was made for the market, so it's quite a bit smaller than a utilitarian vessel.

The jar's excellent design features a wild, expressive Avanyu water serpent, which was formed by carving into the jar's exterior. A single carved channel continues endlessly around the jar, circling the exterior twice while forming the creature's body. The channel curves, shifts, and occasionally sends lines off in various directions. Two additional carved spots appear in the Avanyu's head; other than these small additions, the single winding line is all that was used. This is strong work from a skilled and inventive artist.

The bottom of the jar is signed Sharon Naranjo Garcia, Santa Clara Pueblo.

Santa Clara Pueblo artist Sharon Naranjo Garcia (1951- ) is known for her amazing pottery creations. Many of today's potters began working with clay while incredibly young. Most learned the art of making pottery from an adult family member. Sharon Naranjo Garcia is no exception and had great role models to learn from. Born in 1951, she was raised by her famous grandmother, Christina Naranjo, and began making small animals using her grandmother's clay. From there, she developed into a full-fledged potter. Although she has lived at Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) since her marriage over 20 years ago, she still makes Santa Clara Pueblo style pottery.

What is an Avanyu? a deity of the Tewa Pueblos—San Ildefonso, Tesuque, San Juan, Santa Clara, Nambe, and Pojoaque—and is the guardian of water. He is represented as a horned or plumed serpent with curves suggestive of flowing water or the zigzag of lightning. He appears on the walls of caves located high above canyon rivers in New Mexico and Arizona and may be related to the feathered serpent of Mesoamerica— Quetzalcoatl and related deities.

Condition: good condition, one small area in which the matte pigment used for the carved areas appears on the polished exterior—an accident that occurred during the creation of the jar

Provenance: this Carved Blackware Pottery Jar by Sharon Naranjo Garcia is from a private Colorado collection

Reference: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Christina Naranjo, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Sharon Naranjo Garci