Santa Clara Pueblo Red Bear Paw Design Jar by Tina Garcia [SOLD]

When looking at a beautiful piece of pottery like this one by Tina Garcia, one usually thinks of the awesome skill required to shape or polish a piece. Few people realize that in addition, it requires specialized skill to know how to use different firing methods to produce specific colors. In the Tewa pottery tradition, the red and black pots come from the same clay. It is the very precise firing process that determines the final color of the pot. The incredible rust-red luster of this pot is a result of the expertise of the potter and her deft knowledge of the firing process.

Tina Garcia was the granddaughter of Severa Tafoya. Her mother was from Santa Clara Pueblo and her father from Ohkay Owingeh (formerly known as San Juan Pueblo). She learned pottery making from her grandmother and her aunt, Angela Baca.  She was producing pottery by the time she was eleven. When she decided to become a career potter, she spent time in museums studying the artform. After spending time with the collections at the School of American Research in Santa Fe, she came to the decision to only create pieces that reflected the classic Tewa shapes and forms. Tina did not use the carving technique popular with most Santa Clara potters, choosing to use only form, polish and color as decoration. She made pots that honored the traditional forms with a beautifully polished modern finish. The only decoration she used was the traditional Santa Clara bear paw, and she did so infrequently.

This red jar’s exquisite form and polish are distinctly those of Tina Garcia. The round underbody rises to a sharp shoulder. Two indented bear paws are set on the gracefully rising neck. The rim is slightly flared outwards, creating a perfectly balanced pot. Tina then polished the vessel with unmatched precision. Finally, it was fired in a manner that resulted in an even rust-red finish. This jar is signed Tina Garcia Trujillo, her married name. It is dated ‘89 with both Santa Clara and San Juan Pueblos. It is a fantastic contemporary pottery piece by a very collectible potter.

Condition: this Santa Clara Pueblo Red Bear Paw Design Jar by Tina Garcia is in excellent original condition with no scratches.

Provenance: from a Midwest collector who purchased it from the artist

Recommended Reading:  Santa Clara Pottery Today by Betty LeFree