Cochiti Pueblo Pottery 12-piece Nacimiento [SOLD]

Ada Suina resumed making pottery figurines a few years ago after several years of not doing so following the death of her husband.  She relied so much on his help in digging the clay and working it to a point where she could form the figurines. Now, at age 86, she has to do everything by herself, therefore it is taking significantly more time to complete a piece. She is not very actively making pottery at this time. She was not displaying pottery at the 2015 Santa Fe Indian Market.

According to Ada, she made her first nacimiento in 1977.  She immediately achieved fame with her nacimientos.  The Museum of Albuquerque, which opened in 1979, promptly purchased a nacimiento set from her for its permanent collection.  Ada was included in the 1979 book Nacimientos by Guy and Doris Monthan (click on our Recommended Reading link below for more information on this book).

This Cochiti Pueblo nacimiento is an older set, probably over 10 years old.  The original date of acquisition is not known.  The set consists of 12 pieces—Mary, Joseph, Jesús in cradle, Three Kings, Angel and five animals. 

Condition: original condition

Recommended Reading:  Nacimientos - Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans by Guy and Doris Monthan

Provenance: from the collection of a New Mexico resident who provided over 100 Cochiti storyteller figurines for our 2015 Holiday Storyteller Exhibit