Description
Traditional handmade Native American Indian Pottery from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent vintage condition.
Commanding immediate reverence, this vintage open bowl showcases the monumental talent of Santa Clara matriarch Margaret Tafoya. Recognized globally for her ability to create exceptionally large, perfectly symmetrical vessels without the use of a potter’s wheel, Tafoya’s work is the definition of masterful traditional craftsmanship. This beautifully proportioned bowl features her trademark exceptionally thick walls, which provide a sturdy, substantial canvas for her world-renowned polishing technique.
The most breathtaking hallmark of a Margaret Tafoya piece is its surface. Armed with a smooth river stone passed down through generations, Tafoya would spend countless hours hand-rubbing the unbaked clay to coax out a flawless, mirror-like gleam that remains unmatched in the Puebloan pottery world. Depending on the specific piece, her bowls often feature the iconic, deeply pressed “bear paw” motif—a symbol of healing and a prayer for water—or elegant, deeply carved geometric bands. Fired outdoors in a traditional reduction process to achieve that signature, rich midnight-black coloration (or left to oxidize for a warm, radiant red), this vintage vessel is a museum-quality masterwork that grounds any space in history, gravity, and unmatched beauty.
