Santa Clara Pueblo Black Carved Pottery By Carol Velarde

Late 20th Century

1.125" H x 2" D

Hand Coiled from Blackware with Deep Carved Lined Feather Design

From a Private Colorado Collection

Excellent Condition

Carol Velarde was a renowned potter from Santa Clara Pueblo, born in 1949. She came from a distinguished family of artists: daughter of Teresa Gutierrez and granddaughter of Rosita Velarde, with siblings including accomplished potters like Marie Suazo and Doris Tenorio.

Santa Clara Pueblo pottery is famous for its highly polished blackware, often featuring deep-carved designs—a technique popularized in the early 20th century and refined by artists like Margaret Tafoya. Carol Velarde specialized in deep-carved black pottery, typically creating small jars and vessels with intricate geometric patterns or traditional motifs like the Avanyu (water serpent).

Her work follows traditional methods: hand-coiled, stone-polished, carved while the clay is leather-hard, and fired in a reduction atmosphere to achieve the signature deep black color.