Linda Tafoya Sanchez Small Black Carved Jar

This exquisite, smaller jar by Linda Tafoya Sanchez (1962-) of Santa Clara Pueblo is a testament to her technical mastery and creative innovation. The piece seamlessly blends traditional burnished ware with the texture of micaceous clay. The jar showcases a sophisticated mixture of traditional stone-polished blackware and textural micaceous clay.

The body of the jar features a complex arrangement of squares and rectangles, encompassing over a dozen distinct designs. These intricate elements include the iconic Avanyu (the horned water serpent) swimming among stylized waves, squared-off hook elements,
cloud motifs, triangular hook elements, and decorative zigzag patterns.

A rich, sparkling micaceous clay covers the band separating the shoulder from the body, adding a visual and textural break. The entire interior of the vessel is also lined with the same micaceous clay.

Linda Tafoya Sanchez is a true perfectionist, attending to every detail. She crafted a fitted lid for this jar but deliberately designed the rim so the piece could be displayed gracefully with or without the cover.

Linda Tafoya Sanchez is an essential figure in the current generation of Santa Clara potters, carrying on a legendary legacy. She is the daughter of Lee and Betty Tafoya and the granddaughter of the famed matriarch, Margaret Tafoya. Linda credits her aunt, Mary Ester Archuleta, with training her to be a potter.

While mastering traditional techniques, Linda has shown great creativity by branching out from simple carved blackware. She pioneered mixing the traditional polished black finish with matte black areas and integrating the use of micaceous clay into her vessels, achieving unique textural contrasts.

Linda is a highly decorated artist, earning numerous awards at major exhibitions, including the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum. Her notable accolades include the honor of being commissioned to create a piece for presentation to the Prince of Spain.

Condition: new

Provenance: this Linda Tafoya Sanchez Small Black Carved Jar is directly from from the artist

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

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