Santa Clara Pueblo Black on Black Miniature Pottery By Dolores Curran

Late 20th Century

1.375" H x 1.125" D

Hand Coiled and Carved with Avaynu Water Serpent Motif at Shoulder and Feather Motif at the Neck of the Pot

In Very Good Condition

Dolores Curran (born 1954) is a respected potter from Santa Clara Pueblo (also known as Kha'p'o Owingeh), with strong ties to Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo) through marriage. She comes from a prominent pottery family: daughter of the late potter Ursulita Naranjo, sister of miniaturist Geri Naranjo, and mother of Ursula Curran, who has carried on the tradition of fine miniatures. 

She began making pottery at a young age and is celebrated for her intricate miniature works, though she also creates larger pieces. Her techniques follow traditional Pueblo methods: hand-coiled, carved or incised (often with sgraffito influences from her late husband Alvin Curran), slipped with various clays for tonal effects, stone-polished, and fired outdoors in a traditional reduction firing for blackware.