Cochiti Pueblo Male Storyteller Figurine with Four Children

Mary Trujillo was originally from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, the daughter of José and Leonidas Cata Tapia. When she married Leonard Trujillo, she moved to Cochiti and has lived there since. Leonard was the son of Helen Cordero and Helen was Mary's mentor. Mary has been making storyteller figurines since the early 1980s.

This storyteller figurine is one of Mary's earlier ones. The facial features are slightly different from later ones.  The adult male has his hair in braids and wears a shirt with an embroidered collar and a patterned back.  There are four boys—two of which are climbing up on his arms and two sedately sitting on his legs.  The adult has closed eyes and open mouth as do most storyteller figurines.  The potter signed her name in pencil on the underside and it has mostly worn away but there is no doubt that this is the work of Mary Trujillo.

Condition:  original condition

Provenance: from a New Mexico family

Recommended Reading:  The Pueblo Storyteller by Barbara Babcock