Jemez Pueblo Laying Down Storyteller Doll Pottery By B. Fragua

Late 20th Century

5" H x 7.125" L x 4.125" W

Hand Crafted from Clay of an Adult Laying Down on Her Stomach with 5 Children on Her Back with their Arms Raised High Smiling Signed B. Fragua Jemez

In Very Good Condition

Bonnie Fragua (also known as Bonnie Fragua-Johnson), a respected Jemez Pueblo potter born in 1966. She is part of a large artistic family from Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa) in New Mexico. Bonnie specializes in hand-coiled and pinched clay figures, including traditional storytellers, monks, mudheads (Koshare or sacred clowns), animals, and other whimsical pieces. She gathers her own clay from the Jemez Reservation lands, uses natural mineral slips and pigments for painting, and fires the pieces outdoors in a traditional manner. Her work often features open mouths (signifying storytelling or singing), detailed clothing with Pueblo motifs, and children clustered around the main figure. 

The Fragua family has a strong tradition in Jemez storyteller pottery, with many members (including Felicia, Cheryl, Joseph, Chrislyn, and others) producing similar figures.