Santa Clara Pair of Pueblo Moccasin Candlesticks [SOLD]

Frances M. Chavarria of Santa Clara Pueblo was actively making pottery from 1930 to 1990, including functional wares. Such daily wares at Santa Clara existed continuously until around 1880, at which time, commercial wares were easily available in Espanola, New Mexico, the town only 6 miles from Santa Clara Pueblo.

In the late 1930s, another form of utilitarian wares developed—this time intended for non-pueblo households in Espanola, Santa Fe, Taos and other towns of the state.  Candy dishes, pitchers, salt and pepper shakers, sugar and creamer sets, and candlesticks, such as this pair, were among the popular ones.  There developed a significant curio market for such items from many of the pueblos.  Anglo and Hispanic households found those items to be good accent pieces for use and for display.  The market for these items is still strong.

This pair of candlesticks was made in the shape of women’s buckskin moccasins with the long strip of hide that twists around the lower leg.  Such candlesticks have always been popular because of their connection to an Indian theme.

Condition: this Santa Clara Pair of Pueblo Moccasin Candlesticks is very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman who provided us with a large selection of black candlestick pairs.

Recommended Reading: Collections of Southwestern Pottery: Candlesticks to Canteens, Frogs to Figurines by Allan Hayes, et al.