Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery “Naming Bowl” [SOLD]

When Linda Tafoya-Sanchez delivered this bowl to Adobe Gallery, she beamingly displayed it and said that she chose to add a micaceous slip to the finished bowl. She expected that the slip would provide a sparkle to the polished black bowl, but she was very surprised that the slip turned the finish of the bowl a sparkling silver/gold color. Linda is constantly experimenting with firing techniques as is well illustrated by the deep red finishes she has recently achieved. 

Linda also explained to us the purpose of the bowl with a terrace on one side. She said that this shape is reserved for use on "naming bowls" for babies when undergoing the naming ceremony. Once the bowl is given to a newly-named baby, it becomes a part of its life. The bowl holds water during the naming ceremony. Later in life, it may be used as a repository for sacred corn meal. It becomes a life-long treasure for the recipient.

About Linda Tafoya-Sanchez

Linda Tafoya Sanchez (b. 1962) comes from one of the most celebrated dynasties in Native American pottery. She is the daughter of Lee Tafoya and granddaughter of the legendary Margaret Tafoya. She was also deeply influenced and taught by her aunt, Mary Ester Archuleta. This particular bowl highlights how perfectly she honors the monumental, deep legacy of the Tafoya family while inserting her own signature elegance, experimental work, and distinctive use of micaceous textures.

Condition: original excellent condition

Provenance: this Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery "Naming Bowl" is from the artist

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Santa Clara Pueblo, Lee and Betty Tafoya, Margaret Tafoya, Contemporary Southwest Indian Pottery, Mary Ester Archuleta, Linda Tafoya-Sanchez