Jemez Pueblo Miniature Pottery By Juanita C. Fragua

Late 20th Century

1.875" H x 2.5" D

Hand Coiled Jar with a Tan Field and a Terracotta Colored Inside with Painted Terracotta and Black Colors in a Geometric Design from Jemez Pueblo NM

In Very Good Condition

Juanita C. Fragua (1935–2023) was a respected Jemez Pueblo potter known for her traditional stone-polished tanware and redware, including jars, bowls, wedding vases, melon/swirl forms, and figures. She belonged to the Corn Clan and often incorporated corn motifs, geometric designs, kiva steps, feathers, and lightning bolts inspired by her heritage and ancient Jemez pottery.

She played a key role in reviving traditional pottery-making at Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa) in the mid-20th century, when simpler sun-dried and poster-painted pieces were more common. Her mother, Rita Casiquito Magdalena (from Zia Pueblo), taught her the basics starting around age 13 (circa 1948). Juanita later studied ancient Jemez sherds and pottery in Santa Fe and Albuquerque museums to develop more complex designs. She returned permanently to the pueblo in 1973 after periods in St. Louis and San Francisco, where she made and sold pottery (often "small stuff").