Pottery Canteen with Six Children by Seferina Ortiz

This whimsical polychrome pottery canteen by renowned Cochiti Pueblo potter Seferina Ortiz is a lively and endearing example of her playful sculptural style. Measuring 5-½ inches in height and 8 inches in diameter, the canteen is adorned with six individually sculpted children, each full of personality and charm.

One child reclines atop the spout, wearing an argyle cardigan and caught mid-gesture, rubbing his eye as if on the verge of a nap. Two more perches on the handles, adding balance to the overall composition. On the reverse, two children are caught in a moment of playful mischief, climbing up the canteen's back — one wearing a jersey marked 73, and the other, in striped pants, carrying a smaller child on his back.

A bold raincloud motif crowns the top of the canteen, grounding the scene in Cochiti symbolism and connecting the sculptural elements to traditional Pueblo pottery design. The surface decoration, paired with the animated figures, demonstrates Ortiz's skill in blending storytelling with cultural expression.

The piece is signed on the bottom and is a wonderful example of Seferina Ortiz's talent for infusing traditional forms with humor, imagination, and life.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Pottery Canteen with Six Children by Seferina Ortiz is from the estate of an Adobe Gallery client.

Recommended Reading: Clay Mirror - From Monos to Storytellers: Reflections from Cochiti Pueblo from The Tom & Charlotte Mittler Collection

TAGS: Laurencita Herrera, Southwest Indian Pottery, Cochiti Pueblo, Contemporary Pottery, Seferina Ortiz