San Ildefonso Pueblo Plate Pottery By Blue Corn

Mid/Late 20th Century

Size 1.75" H x 9.75" D

Hand Coiled Clay with a Deeply Carved Geometric Pattern

In Excellent Condition

Blue Corn (Crucita Gonzales Calabaza, 1921–1999) was a celebrated Native American potter from San Ildefonso Pueblo in north-central New Mexico. She is widely recognized for reviving the tradition of polychrome pottery at San Ildefonso, which had largely faded after the rise of black-on-black wares popularized by Maria Martinez in the 1920s. Blue Corn's innovative use of finely polished slips, experimental clays, and multi-colored designs—often featuring feathers, clouds, and geometric motifs—produced distinctive cream polychrome pieces on both jars and plates. Her work not only preserved cultural heritage but also earned her international acclaim, including features in The Wall Street Journal and placements in institutions like the Smithsonian. She received the Governor's Award for excellence in the arts in 1981 and, posthumously, SWAIA's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.