Jemez Pueblo Pottery By Mary H. Loretto

Late 20th Century

1.625" H x 2.375" D 

Hand Coiled Black on Red Seed Jar with a Painted Geometric Design and a Small Hole in the Top Center Signed Mary H. Loretto Jemez

In Very Good Condition

Mary H. Loretto is a contemporary potter from Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa), New Mexico, known for her traditional hand-coiled Jemez pottery. ebay.com Born in 1955, Mary H. Loretto comes from a prominent pottery-making family at Jemez Pueblo. Her mother, Cecilia Loretto, passed on traditional techniques. She is the sister of fellow potters Caroline G. Loretto and Geraldine F. Sandia (née Loretto). Other family members, including aunts and daughters in the extended family, are also involved in pottery.

material-insight.com

Jemez potters like Loretto typically gather local clay, prepare it by hand (breaking it down, mixing with water and temper), form vessels using the coil-and-scrape method, sand/polish them (often with a stone for a smooth finish), paint traditional designs, and fire outdoors.