Marie Suina Cochiti Storyteller Figurine with One Child [SOLD]

This is a classic Cochiti Pueblo Storyteller female figurine holding a child, crafted by the late Cochiti Pueblo potter Marie Charlotte Suina (1964-2010).

The figurine depicts a seated female cradling a child on her lap. While traditional storyteller designs originally grew out of male figures, female figures cradling children are deeply rooted in the earlier "Singing Mother" | "Madonna" tradition of Cochiti pottery.

In classic Cochiti storyteller style, the main figure's mouth is modeled wide open, capturing the moment of singing or sharing oral history with the child. It was hand-painted using standard Cochiti natural slip and pigments: cream/tan ground, dense black pigment for the hair and dress (manta), and terracotta/red accent lines along the hem, sleeves, neckline, and base. The back of the figure features painted geometrical belt/sash patterns typical of traditional Cochiti Pueblo attire.

Traditional pottery is created using hand-gathered natural Cochiti clay tempered with volcanic ash (sherd/basalt dust). It is then hand-painted with natural mineral/plant pigments (such as wild spinach for black and mineral slips for red) and outdoors/traditionally fired, giving it a natural matte texture.

It is inscribed in ink on the unglazed base, Marie Suina | Cochiti Pueblo.

Family Tradition: The Suina family is well known for traditional Cochiti figurative pottery. Marie learned and carried on the pueblo's historic clay traditions, creating storytellers, mother figures, and animal figurines until her passing.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Marie Suina Cochiti Storyteller Figurine with One Child is from the collection of a client from California

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Cochiti Pueblo, Estefanita Arquero Herrera, Ada Suina, Marie Charlotte Suina