Micaceous Pottery

Micaceous Clay Pottery

Featuring work by Taos Pueblo/Southern Ute master potter Karen Cordova; Myrtle Cata of San Felipe and San Juan Pueblos; Marcella and Emma Yepa of Jemez Pueblo; Phogeh Povi of San Juan Pueblo; Jennifer Tse-Pe of San Ildefonso Pueblo; Glen Gomes of Taos and Pojoaque Pueblos; Allen Lasiloo of Zuni Pueblo; George Gonzales of Taos Pueblo, and Ignacia Duran of Tesuque Pueblo.

We believe that micaceous pottery offers the greatest potential for increased popularity and collecting by those who appreciate Native American pottery. It's 'discovery' is only a matter of time. To learn more about the wonderful work being done by potters working with micaceous clay read "All That Glitters" by Duane Anderson or contact the Indian Arts Research Center. To read an excerpt from Duane Anderson's book, click here.

Emma Yepa is of the Jemez Pueblo Coyote Clan began potting at he age of 13 in 1965 working with stone polished redware, tanware, some incised work and melon swirl pots. She was taught by her mother Ida Yepa. It is only in the past two years however, that Emma has begun to do swirled melon pots. Another well known Jemez potter named Alvina Yepa is Emma's aunt (her father's sister).

At left is a beautiful micaceous swirl vase with diagonally cut opening. It measures 7 inches tall by 5.25 inches wide. Your price $525 ~ Item #MIC318. Click here to see an enlargement.

Emma is more widely known for her redware and buffware swirl pots but her work with micaceous clay is widely recognized among galleries and collectors. At right is a micaceous swirl pot by Emma measuring 6.25 inches tall by 5 inches wide - stunning! Your price $395 ~ Item #MIC332. Click here to see an enlargement.

Emma recently won awards at the Red Rocks Arts & Crafts Show near Jemez Pueblo. Her work has been published in Indian Market Magazine and in "Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2000 Artist Biographies" by Dr. Gregory Schaaf.

The shape of these pots along with the sharp edge of the swirls make them standout as uniquely beautiful creations desirable for any collection.. This pot measures 4.5 inches tall by 6.5 inches wide. Your price $525 ~ Item #MIC320. Click here to see an enlargement.

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Jennifer Tse-Pe (Jennifer Gonzales) of San Ildefonso carved redware and sometimes used micaceous slips on her bowls and jars. She was the granddaughter of Rose Gonzales and daughter of Dora Tse-Pe She exhibited and won awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Her work has been included in American Indian Art Magazine, Lillian Peaster's "Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery", Dr. Gregory Schaaf’s "Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies"; and Rick Dillingham's "Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery". She was born in 1966 and passed away in 1983.

This vintage pot is 5 inches tall by 4.25 wide and is a fine example of this potter's creative style and obvious talent. Had she lived longer she would have undoubtedly achieved the greatness that is the hallmark of her family line. Your price $450 ~ Item #MIC325. SOLD

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Marcella Yepa is of the Jemez Pueblo Sun Clan and has been an active potter since 1983 creating stone polished redware and tanware melon swirl pots, jars and wedding vases. She was taught the Jemez tradition of pottery by Felipita Yepa and her aunt, Alvina Yepa. She gathers natural clay, hand coils and sculpts her forms and fires her pottery outdoors with cedar chips.

She is represented by galleries in Santa Fe, Albuquerque and in Utah and has been published Schaaf's "Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2000 Artist Biographies, and "Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni" by Allan Hayes & John Blom.

This is a fine melon swirl vase in micaceous clay that adds a spark of light to the swirling energy of the piece. The clay leans a bit more toward the pale rather than the rich gold of Emma Yepa's pieces. It measures 3.25 inches tall by 4 inches wide. Your price $160 ~ Item #MIC321.

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Glen Gomez is of Pojoaque and Taos Pueblo heritage and works with micaceous clay to create jars, bowls, canteens and figures. In 1993 he was selected for the "Artist In The Museum Award" at the Museum of Indian Arts & cultures in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He has exhibited annually at the Santa Fe Indian Market and the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Arts and Crafts Fair. He has been included in "Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies" by Dr. Gregory Schaaf and in "Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni" by Hayes and Blom.

This is a beautiful bowl with a few soft smoke plums on the outside of the piece. It has excellent, symmetrical shape and flow measuring 4 inches high by 8 inches wide. Your price $495 ~ Item #MIC324. Please click here to see an enlargement.

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Robert Vigil has been an active Nambe Pueblo potter since 1990 working with micaceous jars, bowls, vases, figures and polished redware. Robert is the cousin of Lonnie Vigil who is better known than Vigil for his own micaceous pottery which now commands impressive prices. Robert on the other hand is known for his quiet ways and has been referred to as "a masterful potter who awaits discovery" by author Gregory Schaaf who adds "his pottery is so thin and light, as to evoke astonishment. Robert does not create giant storage jars like his cousin. Robert works on smaller, more intimate scale. He is soft spoken and humble about his art. His pots are beautiful. We believe his future is bright."

This is a beautifully shaped black, micaceous pot with the thinnest walls we have ever experienced on a piece made of micaceous clay. No other potter whose micaceous work we've seen can compare. This is a subtle beauty with an eloquence that will not escape the serious collector. Without a doubt, museum quality. It measures 7 inches tall by 6 inches wide, perfect in every way. Your price $495 ~ Item #MIC322. SOLD

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Phoyeh Povi "Fall Flowers" (Pauline Aguino) is an Ohkay Owingeh potter (formerly San Juan Pueblo). San Juan Pueblo has become Ohkay Owingeh (pronounced O-keh o-WEENG-eh) which translates to “Place of the Strong People.” San Juan Pueblo is no more. The pueblo's tribal council restored the community's traditional name in September 2005. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has instructed all state agencies to refer to the pueblo by its new name. The new name is the traditional Pueblo name for the village, used before the Spanish arrived 400 years ago.

As for Pauline Aguino we can 't find any bio information about her however this vintage, estate piece of pottery came with her name and mailing address on a piece of paper stuffed inside. It's not a highly finished piece like you'd see today but more like those from the mid-20th century. It's pure micaceous measuring 4 inches tall by 3.75 inches wide. Your price $100 ~ Item #MIC323.

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