Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery By Gracie Naranjo

Late 20th Century

.625" H x 1.75" D

Hand Coiled from Local Blackware Clay with Carved Matte Zigzag Design Around Rim

From a Private Colorado Collection

Excellent Condition

Gracie Naranjo (1938–2002) was a skilled potter from Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, part of the renowned Naranjo family of artists. She was the daughter-in-law of Christina Naranjo, a prominent Santa Clara potter. Gracie began creating pottery in the traditional Pueblo style from the 1980s onward, specializing in blackware vessels.

Santa Clara Pueblo pottery is famous for its polished black (and sometimes red) surfaces, often featuring deep-carved (or sgraffito-etched) designs. Common motifs include the avanyu (water serpent symbolizing renewal and life), feathers, geometric patterns, and other traditional elements. Pieces are hand-coiled, stone-polished, and fired in a reduction atmosphere to achieve the signature deep black color.