Santa Clara Incised Miniature Seed Pot by Camilio "Sunflower" Tafoya

2.25" H x. 4" W

Excellent Condition

The carved designs feature two flowers on the side, corn, and a medallion picture of a woman carrying a sack and staff.

Camilio “Sunflower” Tafoya (1902-1995) was a son of noted potter Sara Fina Tafoya and Geronimo Tafoya. He was a brother of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo. Two of his children, Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf became renowned potters each working with wonderful sgraffito Native designs. Camilio was married to Agapita Tafoya and made carved pottery in the 1950’s and 60’s, he worked with both Grace and Joseph on many of his works. In the 1970’s he began to create miniatures pottery first in collaboration with Grace and then later on his own. His pottery combined stories of the pueblo along with creative and antidotal Pueblo life images and animals scenes. His pottery can be found in many collections and is displayed at multiple museums worldwide.

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Santa Clara Pueblo (Tewa: Kha'po) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census, although, approximately 3,800 reside on the reservation. Santa Clara Pueblo was established about 1550.

The pueblo is a member of the Eight Northern Pueblos, and the people are from the Tewa ethnic group of Native Americans who speak the Tewa language. The pueblo is on the Rio Grande, between Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo) to the north and San Ildefonso Pueblo to the south. Santa Clara Pueblo is famous for producing hand-crafted pottery, specifically blackware and redware with deep engravings. The pueblo is listed on the National Register.