San Ildefonso Pueblo Small Plate By Juan Tafoya

ca. 1984

.875" H x 3.875" D 

Black on Black Clay with Etched Water Serpent Figure with 2 Turquoise Stones

Excellent Condition

Juan Tafoya (1949–2006) was a renowned potter from San Ildefonso Pueblo, a Tewa-speaking Native American community located about 20 miles northwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande. He learned traditional pottery techniques from his mother, Donicia Tafoya (from Santa Clara Pueblo), starting in his youth, and became an active potter around 1970. Tafoya was celebrated for his innovative approaches while honoring Pueblo traditions, including experimentation with firing methods to achieve varied shades of black and brown, sgraffito (incising designs into the clay surface for a textured effect), and pioneering the use of turquoise inlays in San Ildefonso pottery. His work often featured motifs like the Avanyu (a horned water serpent symbolizing guardianship of water and lightning), feathers, geometric patterns, and kiva steps, drawing from cultural symbols tied to Tewa spirituality and nature.