{"product_id":"santa-clara-pueblo-miniature-black-on-black-pottery-by-cresencia-tafoya","title":"Santa Clara Pueblo Miniature Black on Black Pottery By Cresencia Tafoya","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c!--StartFragment --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eca. 1970\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003e.875\" H x 1.25\" D\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eHand Crafted from Black on Black Clay with a Sunburst Motif Along Opening \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eIn Very Good Condition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eCresencia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003e Tafoya (1918\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e–1999) was a renowned potter from Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, celebrated for her contributions to traditional black-on-black pottery. Born during the 1918 flu pandemic as the second of 11 children to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003eTomacita\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e Gutierrez Tafoya and Cruz Tafoya, she grew up immersed in a family legacy of pottery-making. Her maternal grandmother, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003ePasqualita\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003eTani\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e Gutierrez Tafoya, was the younger sister of the influential Serafina Tafoya, making \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003eCresencia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e part of one of the most storied pottery dynasties in Pueblo history. She married and raised six children—Arthur, Harriet, Annie, Pauline, and Mark Tafoya—all of whom she taught the traditional methods of coil-building, polishing, and firing pottery. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003eCresencia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e herself became a matriarch, passing down techniques that continue through her descendants, including Harriet Tafoya, Annie Baca (n\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eée Tafoya), and Pauline Martinez.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"pf0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eHer work exemplifies the Santa Clara tradition of blackware, a technique dating back centuries where clay is coil-built, stone-polished to a mirror-like sheen, and fired in a reduction atmosphere to achieve the signature matte and glossy black contrasts. While she created larger forms like wedding vases, polychrome redware, and sgraffito seed pots, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eCresencia\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003e was particularly admired for her finely detailed black-on-black pieces, often featuring geometric patterns, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003eavanyu\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf0\"\u003e (horned water serpent) motifs, kiva steps, and bear paws\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cf1\"\u003e—symbols of healing and protection drawn from Tewa cultural heritage. She exhibited extensively, earning awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market (1978–1989) and the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts \u0026amp; Crafts Show, where she participated nearly until her death.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!--EndFragment --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Antique American Indian Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46129885675685,"sku":"251108-01","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0718\/6071\/5685\/files\/251108-01_1.jpg?v=1763591579","url":"https:\/\/antiqueamericanindianart.com\/products\/santa-clara-pueblo-miniature-black-on-black-pottery-by-cresencia-tafoya","provider":"Antique American Indian Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}