Adobe Gallery Blog
Pair of Black Figural Candlesticks with Twisted Stems by Legoria Tafoya - 25942
Legoria Tafoya, Pablita Velarde, and Jane Baca were sisters. Legoria was the oldest and Pablita the youngest. Legoria devoted her career to making traditional black pottery in the Santa Clara Pueblo style, and so did her sister Jane Baca. Pablita Velarde (Golden Dawn) is the one who chose to be an easel painter. All three sisters were exhibited at Enchanted Mesa Gallery in Albuquerque, owned by Fred and Margarete Chase.
Each of this pair of black candlesticks starts with a triangular pedestal from which the stem twists upward to the top. A handle in the shape of a dog or similar animal protrudes on one side. The candlestick pair is probably a late creation by Legoria as they are spectacularly constructed and burnished with a beautiful black finish from firing. They are not the work of a beginner but reflect the hands of an experienced potter.