San Ildefonso Black on Black Tall Neck Jar by Blue Corn [SOLD]

Crucita Gonzales Calabaza (1921-1999) Blue Corn was born in San Ildefonso Pueblo around 1921 and was encouraged by her grandmother, at an early age, to "forget school and become a potter." She did attend school at the pueblo and later at the Santa Fe Indian School, however. At age 20, she married Santiago Calabaza, a Kewa Pueblo - formerly known as Santo Domingo - silversmith. During the 1940s, she worked at Los Alamos as a housecleaner for J. Robert Oppenheimer. Shortly after World War II, she took up pottery making and found her calling.

She became one of the greatest ceramists of all time. She made pottery for over 60 years. Her house was located across the plaza from that of Maria Martinez but there was no competition between the two artisans. She was one of the most honored of 20th-century potters. She received the 1981 New Mexico Governor's Award (New Mexico's highest artistic award!) and she was acclaimed for her artistic accomplishments in the Wall Street Journal and in AMEPNKA, a Soviet Union journal. She won awards at numerous State Fairs, Santa Fe Indian Market, and other exhibitions.

Blue Corn lived another 20 years after Maria Martinez passed away and by doing so became the most sought potter at San Ildefonso Pueblo.  Her house was easily accessible and she always welcomed visitors, where she would visit and sell her pottery and those made by her children.

This tall neck jar is certainly a major object from the hands of Blue Corn - Crucita Gonzales Calabaza.  It is a traditional jar shape of Tewa form but has an extended stove pipe neck from the top of the feather design upward.  Blue Corn placed a matte black band around the neck and eagle feather designs around the main body.  This is a style jar made in the 1960s when collectors were looking for jars to use as lamp bases.  This jar, however, has not been drilled for use as a lamp.

Condition: this San Ildefonso Black on Black Tall Neck Jar is in very good condition

Provenance: from a gentleman from Albuquerque who inherited it from his mother

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies, c.1800-Present by Gregory and Angie Schaaf

Image Credit: Photograph image above of Blue Corn courtesy of Garry and Susan Zens. All images Copyright Adobe Gallery, all rights reserved.