San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery "Eagle Tail" By Cavan Gonzales

San Ildefonso Pueblo Pottery "Eagle Tail" By Cavan Gonzales
Size 4.625" H x 5" D
Natural Tan Clay with Hand Painted in Black and Orange with Geometric and Eagle Tail Motifs with the Inside Painted Orange
From a Private Colorado Collection
Excellent Condition
Cavan Gonzales, a renowned San Ildefonso Pueblo potter, is known for his traditional and polychrome pottery, often signed with his Tewa name, "Tse-Whang" (Eagle Tail). His work reflects the legacy of his great-great-grandmother, Maria Martinez, a legendary figure in Pueblo pottery. Gonzales specializes in large polychrome bowls with intricate designs, such as checkerboard, geometric, feather ring, tadpole, and eagle tail motifs, crafted using traditional hand-building techniques with natural clay.
The "Eagle Tail" design, while iconic in Hopi pottery through Nampeyo’s revival of Sikyatki motifs, is also used by Gonzales, showcasing his ability to blend traditional San Ildefonso techniques with intricate, multi-colored patterns. His pieces are displayed at Sunbeam Indian Arts, his family’s gallery, and have earned numerous awards since he was five years old.