Santa Clara
Hundreds of Santa Clara potters from the past two centuries have been identified. Today, they continue to represent one of the most dynamic pottery-making communities in the Western Hemisphere. Old traditions are maintained here, while at the same time great innovations have come from decades of experimentation. Many deserve credit for testing different kinds of clays, slips, forms, designs, firing techniques and finishes. Their creations feature works of refined artistic elegance. Santa Clara is best known for polished blackware, a style of pottery with ancient roots back to at least the 12th century. Polished and unpolished pots were made for daily use. Water jars and canteens carried water. Seed jars contained seeds. Dough bowls were mixing bowls used in bread making and still are today. Some families still use traditional stew bowls for feast days. Children make miniature animal figures including turtles, lizards and buffaloes. In the 19th century, designs on polished blackware; pottery jars and bowls were not painted. Ornamentation was limited to scalloped rims and impressions of broad swirling lines. Some classic water jars feature double shoulders, swirling necks and scalloped rims.
Source Information: Volume Two, American Indian Art Series, Pueblo Indian Pottery, 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf, Ph.D.
