Santa Clara Pueblo Black on Black Pottery By Agapita Tafoya

Early/Mid 20th Century

2.375" H x 4" D

Hand Coiled from a Black on Black Local Clay with a Deep Carved Step Zigzag Pattern

In Very Good Condition

Agapita Silva Tafoya (1904–1959) was a respected potter from Santa Clara Pueblo (Kha'p'o Owingeh) in New Mexico. She was married to Camilio Tafoya (a notable potter and one of the first men recognized for the craft in the pueblo) and was the mother of renowned artists Grace Medicine Flower and Joseph Lonewolf, both famous for their intricate sgraffito and carved pottery styles.

Agapita was active primarily from the 1930s to the early 1950s, working in the traditional handmade methods of the time. She excelled in multiple styles, including polychrome red ware, carved black ware, and black-on-black vessels and plates. While she was not a highly prolific potter, her work is highly regarded for its excellent quality and craftsmanship.

Santa Clara Pueblo is renowned for its black-on-black pottery tradition, which involves a reduction-firing process (using dung or other materials to create a smoky, oxygen-poor environment) that turns the clay a deep matte black while leaving polished areas glossy. This technique, popularized in the early 20th century by artists like Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso Pueblo, was adapted and refined at Santa Clara, often featuring deeply incised or carved designs such as the avanyu (water serpent), rain motifs, geometric patterns, or other traditional symbols.

Agapita's black-on-black pieces typically include polished and matte contrasts, with some featuring carved elements for added depth and texture. Her work fits within the broader legacy of the extended Tafoya family, one of the most influential pottery dynasties at Santa Clara, descending from matriarch Sara Fina Tafoya.