Ten Piece Pottery Jemez Pueblo Nacimiento [SOLD]

Marie Romero and Adobe Gallery shared a long history of working together. Marie participated in our storyteller exhibits and nacimiento exhibits as far back as the early 1980s. She was such a pleasant person that it was always a joy to work with her.

This Nacimiento was probably made by Marie in the late 1980s.  It is typical of the style she produced throughout her career. The paint is all natural and left in a matte state. Later in her career, Marie stone polished portions of the paint, but her early works were in matte finish.

Marie Romero is among the first potters in her pueblo to make nacimientos and she was the only potter from Jemez featured in the book Nacimientos by Guy and Doris Monthan (see book reference link below).  She said “It was something I wanted to try.  I made my first set just before Christmas 1975, and I was surprised when it sold immediately.  The next August, I made some for the Santa Fe Indian Market and the opening of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, and the same thing happened.  People wanted more.  I had orders from all over the country.” A very similar set to this one is featured on page 50 (see image below).

One of Marie’s sets took Second Prize at Indian Market in 1976, and one of her sets was pictured in New Mexico Magazine that year.

Marie began making and selling little Indian houses of clay when she was eight.  At the time, Jemez potters were using bright colors of poster paint applied after firing.  Later, she began using natural colors and all her materials came from Jemez.

Marie attended the Santa Fe Indian School and, later, took courses in art and early childhood education from the University of New Mexico and the University of Albuquerque. For many years she taught daily classes in clay at the Jemez Day School.  She passed away in 2007 but left a legacy of beautiful art and two daughters who are continuing her legacy.

This nacimiento features the three-piece Holy Family, three Kings—one bearing a gift of corn, one a gift of loaf bread and one a gift of a pottery bowl, an angel with her arms outstretched, a shepherd and his sheep, and even a donkey.

Condition: The set is in very good original condition with minor paint abrasion

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Southern New Mexico

Reference: Nacimientos: Nativity Scenes by Southwest Indian Artisans by Guy and Doris Monthan