Posted 4 years ago
dav2no1
(836 items)
Indian Pottery - *Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery
*Circa - 1942-1960s(most likely 1950-60s)
Approximately 6" x 4"
I have owned this piece for a long time. I don't know much about it other than I believe it's Indian. Saw a similar piece years ago on the Antiques Roadshow but don't remember the details. Only example I have seen. If anyone has some information I'd like hear it.
**UPDATE**
Please see comments below..thanks Cayonroad!
The tribal affiliation is Santa Clara Pueblo, but the date is incorrect. That particular shade of blue/gray clay slip wasn't discovered and used at Santa Clara until 1942, and has been used ever since. So the oldest date it could possibly be is 1942.
The bird ashtray form was a popular souvenir item for many of the southwest tribes in the 1950s and early 1960s. Since most Santa Clara potters were signing their pottery by the 1970s, I would say this dates to the 1960s, when this style of polychrome pottery was most popular at Santa Clara.
The only difference between the red clay body and the black pottery most commonly associated with Santa Clara, is the way it is fired. It's the same clay, but fired in a reduction atmosphere, the red will turn black. Fired in a regular oxidizing atmosphere, it will remain red.
Thank you! Great detailed information. Exactly what I was looking for. I will update the information.