Rita Lewis Female Pottery Storyteller Figurine with Five Children

When Adobe Gallery organized its first Storyteller Exhibit in Albuquerque in 1979, there were only five potters making these figurines — Helen Cordero, Dorothy Trujillo, Mary Frances Herrera, Seferina Ortiz, and Rita Lewis. Sadly, today, all of these potters are deceased.

Rita Lewis (1920-1991), the daughter of famous potter Ascencion Banada, married Ivan Lewis, son of famous potter Lucy Lewis. Together they started making bowls and animal figurines around 1971, and storyteller figurines around 1973. Following the death of Ivan, Rita continued making storyteller figurines alone.

Rita's potteries have always been made in true traditional fashion, using Cochiti clay, slip, and vegetal paints and firing the pieces outdoors.

This female storyteller by Rita Lewis wears the traditional pueblo dress that is draped over one shoulder and under the other. There are two children clinging to her front, two more sitting on her legs, and one clinging to her back. The shirts being worn by the boys have traditional Cochiti pottery designs painted on the backs.

I believe this to be an early storyteller figurine by Rita, probably late 1970s.  It is traditional in every sense — clay, paint, and firing.  It is signed Rita Lewis Cochiti N.M. on the underside.

Condition: this Rita Lewis Female Pottery Storyteller Figurine with Five Children is in original condition

Provenance: acquired by Adobe Gallery in 2008 from an Albuquerque family and sold to the client from whom we now have it back to offer again.

Recommended Reading: The Pueblo Storyteller: Development of a Figurative Ceramic Tradition by Barbara Babcock

TAGS: Helen Cordero, Dorothy Trujillo, Mary Frances Herrera, Seferina Ortiz, storyteller, Lucy Lewis, Ivan Lewis, Cochiti Pueblo, Rita Lewis