Linda Tafoya Sanchez Small Wavy Melon Jar with Lid

This exquisite lidded blackware jar by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez (b. 1962) of Santa Clara Pueblo represents a sophisticated evolution in her storied career. While renowned for her monumental vessels, this piece showcases her mastery of small-scale precision and her innovative use of traditional textures.

Linda Tafoya-Sanchez carries the weight of one of the most prestigious lineages in Native American art. As the granddaughter of the legendary Margaret Tafoya and the daughter of Lee and Betty Tafoya, she was raised at the heart of the Santa Clara pottery tradition. Her stature in the art world is confirmed by top honors from the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair. Perhaps the ultimate testament to her skill is her history of high-profile commissions, which includes a piece created specifically for the Prince of Spain.

This jar is a "new venture" for Linda, reflecting a deliberate shift toward creating intimate, highly detailed vessels for the discerning collector. The jar is a classic globular "melon" shape, featuring deep ribs that swirl elegantly from the rim to the base. Achieving perfect symmetry in a swirling rib pattern requires an incredible degree of spatial awareness during the carving process. The inclusion of a form-fitted lid is a modern innovation by Linda. It allows the piece to be viewed as a singular, sculptural object or as a functional vessel, adding a layer of contemporary versatility to a traditional form.

Linda is celebrated for blending distinct finishes. This jar features a breathtaking interplay between flawlessly burnished with a traditional stone to a high-gloss, reflective sheen, and a shimmering, matte micaceous clay applied to the rim, the lid, and select melon ribs. This provides a "glittering" effect that catches the light and offers a tactile, organic contrast to the smooth polished surface.

Despite its innovative scale and lid, the jar remains deeply rooted in ancestral techniques — hand-coiled from natural Santa Clara clay; achievement of the deep black through a traditional reduction firing process. The jar is signed on the bottom: Linda Tafoya Sanchez, Santa Clara Pueblo.

Small-scale lidded jars by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez are highly coveted because they offer all the technical difficulty and aesthetic beauty of her large-scale work in a more accessible, intimate format. This piece is a perfect example of a master artist at the height of her powers, experimenting with form while maintaining the highest standards of the Tafoya legacy.

Condition: new

Provenance: this Linda Tafoya Sanchez Small Wavy Melon Jar with Lid is directly from the artist

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

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