Native American Storytellers

Mary Small (Kal-La-Tee, "New Indian Basket") is from Jemez Pueblo and has been an active potter since the 1950s working with matt polychrome jars, bowls, wedding vases, storytellers and miniatures. She was taught traditional pottery making by her mother Perfectita Toya. Mary has won numerous awards including 1st place at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the Heard Museum Show, the New Mexico State Fair, the Inter-tribal ceremonial, and the Indian Arts & Crafts association Show. Her work is included in "Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni" by Hayes and Blom; Gregory Schaaf's "Southern Pueblo Pottery 2000 Artist Biographies"; Berger and Schiffer's "Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery".

Both Mary and her son Scot create wonderful turtles with real turquoise nuggets on the shells. These are two of Mary's. The one at top, right, is 2.5 inches tall. Your price $95 - Item #ST191

The turtle at bottom, left, is a hair under 3 inches tall. Your price $115 - Item #192

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Beatrice Loretto of Jemez Pueblo created these lovely storytellers. She has been creating storytellers for several years now and this one typifies her style and use of colors. It measures 5 inches tall by 3 inches with blanket as hood and featuring five children holding a basket of corn There is also a large corn design on her blanket.

Your price $175 ~ Item #ST300

The storyteller at right is also 6 inches tall with 8 children and a beautiful Jemez style pot - all done with meticulous detail.

Your price $235 ~ Item #ST309

The storyteller at left in a white dress measures 5.5 inches tall with 7 children and a beautiful braid. Your price $190 ~ Item #ST310. SOLD

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Alan Lasiloo is from Zuni Pueblo and has been an active potter since 1985 working with polychrome jars, ollas and bowls and occasionally micaceous storytellers. He learned to make his pottery at the Institute of American Indian Arts in santa Fe, New Mexico. His work is included in Gregory Schaaf's "Southern Pueblo Pottery 2000 Artist Biographies"; Berger and Schiffer's "Pueblo and Navajo Contemporary Pottery".

The rain god at right measures 7.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Your cost $100 ~ Item #ST320

These micaceous rain gods are made in the traditional, more primitive style in keeping with their ancient origins before tourism. Rain gods were one of several types of 'gods' created for the tourist trade in the 1880s, the earliest of which was collected in 1879. The roots of such figurative pottery can be traced back hundreds of years to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Abundant rainfall, or the lack of it, has been cited as a determining factor in the rise or fall of many ancient cultures.

The rain god at left measures 7.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Your cost $100 ~ Item #ST321

Today, Rain Gods and other figurative pottery such as Hopi Kachinas, are created with a high degree of artistry and talent put into play. They are much less common than Storytellers and remain a unique genre for serious collectors of both historical and contemporary Native American art and crafts.

We recommend Duane Anderson's book "When Rain Gods Reined" to learn more about this intriguing form of figurative pottery.

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Donna Allapowa is from Zuni Pueblo and has been an active potter since the 1980s working with polychrome jars, bowls and owls. She is a private person and has never submitted work to any of the regional shows such as the Santa Fe Indian Market and that is the only reason you may not have heard of her.

This large storyteller has four owl chicks, fine painting and delicately created wings and tail. It measures 7.25 inches tall by 5 inches wide. Your price $310 ~ Item #ST222.

Donna's work is included in "Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni" by Hayes and Blom and in Dr. Gregory Schaaf's book "Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies". These owls, both large and small, typify the excellence of her work in sculptured form and very fine painting.

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Rain Gods

Teresa Tapia of Tesuque Pueblo made these classic Rain God (called munas at Tesuque) by gathering and processing her own clay; sculpting it, hand painting and firing the pieces in fire at the pueblo. Open firing of the pieces requires great skill whereas the pieces are very vulnerable to cracking from the heat if it is uneven. Teresa is one of several potters mentioned in Duane Anderson's book When Rain Gods Reined who create this genre of figurative pottery. Rain Gods were one of of several types of 'gods' created for the tourist trade in the 1880s, the earliest of which was collected in 1879. The roots of such figurative pottery can be traced back hundreds of years to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations. Abundant rainfall, or the lack of it, has been cited as a determining factor in the rise or fall of many ancient cultures.

We are honored to have these two pieces by her and hope to offer more Rain Gods by Teresa and other noted Tesuque potters who also create this wonderful genre of figurative pottery. These rain gods have wonderful detailed painting using all natural colors and white slip. Top rain god measures 4.25 inches high by 2.75 inches wide. Your price $225 ~ Item #ST265

Teresa creates an entire miniature world of nature's creatures as well as Rain Gods. She is the daughter of the famous Tesuque painter, Thomas Vigil, and she grew up watching him paint pottery and watercolors. Teresa has been honored as a "Living Treasure" of the Tesuque Pueblo and brings a spiritual quality into all her work "I think about nature," says Teresa. "I think about my great ancestors who brought this talent into the world and into my family. I am thankful to the Great Creator and I am thankful to Mother Clay. She is my teacher. She guides my hand; she gives me clear vision."

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