Traditional Tewa Black Pottery Vessel [SOLD]

Greg Garcia claims heritage to two Tewa Pueblos of New Mexico—Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh.  His mother was Lydia Tafoya of Santa Clara, daughter of Severa Tafoya.  His father was Santiago Garcia of Ohkay Owingeh.  Greg’s sisters are Tina Garcia and Virginia Garcia, both of whom are well-known potters.

Greg was inspired to become a potter by his grandmother, Severa Tafoya, who was the mother of five female potters of distinction.  He started working with the clay when he was only 14 years old.  He was taught to follow all traditional methods of pottery production—gathering and cleaning clay, processing clay and building with coils, stone polishing and outdoor firing.  He faithfully follows those traditions.

This small jar is an excellent example of his very fine work.  It is the traditional Tewa shape made by many Santa Clara potters.  The wall of the jar is beautifully thin and the burnishing produced an outstanding sheen.  Greg achieved a beautiful black finish by a well-operated firing.  The jar is signed Greg Garcia San Juan/Santa Clara on the underside.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Illinois which purchased it in 1992 from the Museum Shop of IAIA in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Santa Clara Pottery Today by Betty LeFree