Santa Clara Pueblo Black Carved Plate with Feather Design [SOLD]

This excellent black pottery plate by Toni Roller features a carved design of feathers.  It is her interpretation of the traditional San Ildefonso Pueblo plates painted by Julian Martinez of the eagle feather design by which he was inspired by a Mimbres bowl in the Museum of New Mexico collection that had a similar  feather design. This design is now over a thousand years old and just as impressive as it was then. The Mimbres Indians painted the feather design in black on white, Julian Martinez painted it in Polychrome and Black on Black, and Toni Roller executed it in carved technique in black pottery ... tradition continues.

Toni Roller began her career as a pueblo potter at age six by making clay marbles and throwing them into the fire when her mother, Margaret Tafoya, was firing pottery. From there she blossomed into one of the finest potters at Santa Clara Pueblo. This small plate with a carved design is dated August 1983 and is truly an exceptional example of her attention to detail.  It is a beautiful example of outstanding workmanship.

Condition: this Santa Clara Pueblo Black Carved Plate with Feather Design is in very good condition

Provenance: from the estate of a client from Colorado

Recommended Reading:  Indian Pottery by Toni Roller of Santa Clara Pueblo by Toni Roller

Artist Image and Reference Courtesy: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

Relative Links: 

Toni Roller, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Julian Martinez, Mimbres, Margaret Tafoya, pottery, Santa Clara Pueblo