Linda Tafoya Sanchez Black Cherry Jar with Avanyu and Feathers [SOLD]

This jar by Linda Tafoya Sanchez carries her Black Cherry firing finish. Linda has developed firing techniques that result in various shades of red — Black Cherry, Deep Plum, Deep Red, and other designations. The outcome of color depends on the firing. She also produces a standard polished black finish. This Black Cherry finish is a modern revelation, setting this vessel apart as a true collector's landmark.

Linda utilizes time-honored methods — coil-building and hand-carving — but modifies the firing to achieve a surface that is a study in texture. Portions of the deep red are meticulously stone-polished to a mirror-like high gloss. These polished sections play against the earthy, shimmering texture of micaceous clay, creating a sophisticated interplay of light and shadow.

The jar's narrative is organized into five distinct horizontal bands, meticulously carved to guide the eye. The first and fifth bands encircle the neck and base and feature elegant vertical eagle feathers, alternating between stone-polished and micaceous matte lusters. Bands two and four are delicate micaceous "Greek Key" figures encircling the body, providing a tactile transition between the designs. The centerpiece of the jar features a pair of Avanyu, one following the other around the jar. The rim is flat-topped with a polished red slip that extends elegantly into the interior of the neck.

Linda Tafoya Sanchez (b. 1962) carries one of the most prestigious lineages in Pueblo art. As the granddaughter of the legendary Margaret Tafoya and student of her aunt Mary Ester Archuleta, Linda's foundation is unimpeachable. She has expanded the family legacy beyond traditional blackware, blending diverse finishes and micaceous textures that have redefined contemporary standards.

An award-winner at the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Museum, Linda's global stature was cemented by a prestigious commission to create a custom piece for the Prince of Spain. This jar is signed on the bottom: Linda Tafoya Sanchez, Santa Clara Pueblo. It is a rare opportunity to own a piece that balances the weight of the Tafoya legacy with the pulse of modern innovation.

Condition: Newly finished by the artist, delivered to us on 22 May 2026.

Provenance: this Linda Tafoya Sanchez Black Cherry Jar with Avanyu and Feathers is directly 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