Santa Clara Pottery / San Ildefonso Pottery

Santa Clara / San Ildefonso Pueblo

Pueblo Pottery Maine presents both traditional and contemporary pottery by Santa Clara and San Ildefonso artists including Mary Cain, Mida Tafoya, Tina Diaz, Sammy Naranjo, Stella Chavarria, Victor and Naomi Eckleberry, Bernice Naranjo, Barbara Martinez, Martin Moquino, Corn Moquino, Denise Chavarria, Forrest Naranjo, Ron Suazo, Dusty Naranjo, Eric Sunbird Fender, Lois Gutierrez, Alice Martinez, Sharon Naranjo Garcia, Martha Appleleaf, Madeline & Adrian Naranjo, Linda Cain, Marilyn Martinez, Glenda Naranjo, Eugene Gutierrez, Gwen Tafoya, Goldenrod, Anna Archuleta, Ethel Vigil, Chris Martinez, Sherry Tafoya and Kevin Naranjo.

How to make a Purchase

Marie Martinez (Marie Montoya Martinez, Marie, Maria Poveka) of San Ildefonso Pueblo is recognized as one of the most famous Indian potters in history. How she became so famous is an interesting story and we suggest you visit this Marie Martinez website for a more complete story and reference materials. For those who collect acquiring a piece by Marie is a giant step up and her work is sought out like no other. Here are two excellent opportunities.

At left, top, is a feather black on black plate by Marie & Santa that measures 5.75 inches in diameter with no cracks, chips or abrasions. Your price $1,900 ~ Item #SC364. Please click here to see a series of enlargements. SOLD

Marie began winning awards with the 1925 New York State Fair and continued receiving awards and praise for decades to come including an invitation to the White House by Theodore Roosevelt. Her work is in every major museum in this country that has a Native American art collection plus many throughout the world. Two highly recommended biographies of her life are by authors Richard Spivey (1979) and Susan Peterson (1977 and 1989)

For several years Marie collaborated with her daughter-in-law, Santana Roybal Martinez, after Marie's son Adam passed away. These plates were created by Marie and Santana between 1943 and 1956. They are both in excellent condition having been stored very carefully with minimal exposure to environment or light. Neither have been refurbished in any way. Pottery by Marie that has a brilliant gun blue shine has been restored for it is past of the natural aging process that the black be slightly dulled in an irregular way. These plates are as good as her pottery can be without some form of restoration. We have limited histories on both pieces and guarantee their authenticity.

Above right is a beautiful feather motif plate by Marie and Santana that measures 6.25 inches in diameter. In wonderful condition, not restored, no chips, cracks or abrasions. Your price $2,100 ~ Item #SC366. Please click here to see a series of enlargements. Not a Sale Item.

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How to make a Purchase

Lois Gutierrez del la Cruz is of Pojoaque and Santa Clara heritage and works with polychrome plates, jars and bowls.

The top pot, at left, measures 9 1/2 tall by 9 inches wide and really represents the full artistry Lois Gutierrez del la Cruz. Here Lois combines her finely honed talents with her unbridled and fearless passion to create new and intriguing work. The top of this pot represents the pueblo structure of buildings as well as the mountains and valleys that surround them. It is innovative, contemporary work that is increasingly the hallmark of this artist's work and why her work is increasingly collected and growing in value. This is one of her finest pieces. Your price $1825 - Item #SC250 Click here to see an enlargement. SALE PRICE $1295

Lois is the wife of Derek de la Cruz (who helps her with the outdoor firing and gathering the natural paints) and the daughter of Petra (Montoya) Gutierrez (Pojoaque) and Juan Isidro Gutierrez(Santa Clara). She is also the sibling of potters Godenrod (Gloria Garcia), Thelma Talachy and Minnie Vigil. She has won over 20 awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market since 1975in a number of divisions and categories,including Best of Show and the Katherine & Miguel Otero Award for Creative Excellence.

At left is a very nice, small lizard pot with excellent shape and very nice graphics. It measures 3.25 inches tall by 4 inches wide. Your price $325 ~ Item #SC324

Lois has been published in many publications including Arizona Highways, American Indian Art Magazine, SWAIA Quarterly, New Mexico Magazine, Gregory Schaaf's "Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies"; "Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery" by Dillingham; Lillian Peaster’s "Pueblo Pottery Families"; and Stephen Trimble’s "Talking With The Clay".

At right is a perfect seedpot by Lois with superb detail and solid colors. A classic example of her work at its best. This seedpot measures 4.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Your price $625 ~ Item #SC330. Click here for an enlargement.

Lois Gutierrez's work is widely collected for its very refined artwork and form utilizing beautiful graphics and rich, solid colors to create her fine pieces. A distinctive quality of her work is portraying various aspects of traditional Pueblo life including Pueblo dancers, everyday life scenes, human and animal interactions, and the occasional graphic statement pertaining to a Native American political perspectives.

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How to make a Purchase

Madeline Naranjo collaborates with Adrian Garcia to produce these beautiful pots. She is the granddaughter of Madeline Naranjo, one of Santa Clara's most well-known potters who began her career in 1935. Madeline is the daughter Anita and Joseph Naranjo.

At top and right is one of Madeline's spectacular larger pots ~ the finest we have seen to date.If you have an eye for rising stars this potter is on the verge being one of the very highest of Santa Clara potters. Some of our customers reminisce about her low prices just a few years ago and are grateful they bought her pottery back then. This pot is superb quality and measures 9.5 inches tall by 6.5 inches wide. Your price $2,250 ~ Item #SC315 Click here to see a larger image of this spectacular piece.

This magnificent piece has fantastic shape and her sharp-edged carvings of two Ananyu with matte finished heads and intertwined bodies. This is a special piece fit for any serious collector willing to make the investment in this work that has increased in value considerably over the last few years and will continue to do so

At left is a beautiful pot featuring a heartline bear on one side and kiva steps on the other. Superb carving as always, great polish and shape measuring 3.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Your price $650 ~ Item #SC231.

Madeline's work is included in Lillian Peaster's "Pueblo Pottery Families",Gregory Schaaf's "Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies" and an increasing number of periodicals and other publications.

At right is a very fine pot with carved Avanyu. This piece was bought from a private collection, is several years old and in excellent condition. It measures 3 inches tall by 4 inches wide. Your price $330 ~ Item #SC233

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How to make a Purchase

Mida Tafoya has been an active Santa Clara potter since 1945 working with carved bowls, jars and wedding vases. She is the daughter of Christina Naranjo who was also her teacher. Ethel Vigil, Donna Tafoya, Sherry Tafoya and Red Bird Tafoya are just some of her students over the years. She is the sister of Mary Cain and Margaret Tafoya.

Mida’s work has been exhibited at many venues throughout the country. Her work is included in many periodicals and publications including American Indian Art Magazine, Stephen Trimble's “Talking with the Clay”, Dr. Gregory Schaaf’s “Pueblo Indian Pottery 750 Artist Biographies”; “Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni” by Hayes & Blom and Rick Dillingham's “Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery”.

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