Evelyn Cheromiah Bowl with Tularosa Design [SOLD]

The Legacy of Evelyn Cheromiah and the Revival of Pottery at Laguna Pueblo

The potters of Laguna Pueblo, sharing a rich tradition with their neighboring Acoma Pueblo, faced a significant decline in pottery making during the mid-twentieth century. Evelyn Cheromiah (1928-2013) stood out as one of the few who persisted in this craft at Laguna Pueblo during this period. In the 1970s, she sparked a revival in pottery production at Laguna by teaching others the craft, thanks to a federal grant she received. However, even today, the number of potters there remains limited.

In 1976, Cheromiah crafted this extraordinary thin-walled bowl at Laguna. This piece was entered in the New Mexico State Fair that year and was awarded Second Premium, with the award ribbon accompanying the bowl. The bowl is noted for its beautifully smooth finish on both the interior and exterior. A former dealer once mentioned that Evelyn used chicken grease to enhance the finish of her pottery and fired her pottery for one hour using horse and sheep dung as fuel. It remains unclear whether the chicken grease was applied before or after firing, but logically, it would have been after firing. The process of pottery making varies slightly across the pueblos, but it always involves intricate and fascinating techniques.

The bowl features prehistoric designs known as Tularosa designs, rendered in traditional Tularosa pottery's black-on-white slip. The motif predominantly consists of geometric patterns, including steps, diagonal lines, and the signature Tularosa spiral.

Laguna potters are renowned for their use of sharp, right-angled geometric shapes, often of an architectural nature. Cheromiah expertly incorporated this style into her piece. Uniquely, this modern bowl has a concave bottom, akin to traditional olla bottoms, as opposed to the flat bottoms seen in most bowls.

The geometric patterns on the bowl flow seamlessly from top to bottom, each transitioning smoothly into the next. The bottom of the jar, a simple orange base, is the only part devoid of a geometric element. The piece is signed E. Cheromiah, Laguna, NM underneath.

Throughout her career, Evelyn remained committed to traditional pottery making. She collected her own clay, used potsherds for temper, and employed mineral and vegetal paints for the designs. She also adhered to the traditional outdoor firing technique.

This bowl stands as a testament to Evelyn Cheromiah's exceptional talent and the enduring legacy of Laguna Pueblo pottery.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Evelyn Cheromiah Bowl with Tularosa Design is from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

TAGS: Laguna Pueblo, Lee Ann Cheromiah, Mary Cheromiah-Victorino, Modern Pueblo Pottery, Evelyn Cheromiah