Santo Domingo Pueblo Indian Pottery Vessel

20th Century

4.125" H x 3.375" L x 5.5" W

Hand Coiled from a Local Clay with a Spout on Each Side and a Handle in the Center with Painted Black and Terracotta Colors in a Flower Design

In Very Good Condition

Santo Domingo Pueblo (now officially known as Kewa Pueblo) is one of the largest and most traditional of the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico, located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe along the Rio Grande. The community is renowned for its conservative approach to culture, with minimal European influence visible in its arts, including pottery.

Kewa/Santo Domingo pottery is highly traditional, handmade using ancient techniques like hand-coiling from local buff-colored clay, shaping, painting with natural pigments (often black from vegetal sources and red/terra cotta), and outdoor firing. Potters (historically and primarily women, though men like renowned artist Robert Tenorio also excel) apply a cream or buff slip as a base, then create designs that emphasize bold geometric patterns, negative space, and motifs like flowers, birds, and occasionally animals—reflecting deep cultural and spiritual significance while avoiding overly intricate or commercialized styles seen in some other Pueblos.