Pottery by Juan Tafoya of San Ildefonso Pueblo Page 3 of 5

Go To: Luciano Family Home Go To: Juan Tafoya Pottery Intro Go To: Santa Fe 2001 Intro

(Click on the Small Images to See Full-size Picture.)

About an hour and a half later and the firing is done. Juan beginning to uncover the firing pit.	The manure pile and the tin covering have been removed and the lustrous pottery, now with the famous black-on-black color, begin to emerge.	Of the original six pots, four appeared to survive the firing intact. They are still quite hot, and have ashes inside them. We later discovered that, unfortunately, the one on the right had a large chunk missing on the bottom.	Juan wiping off one of the pots after firing.
Juan wiping off the largest pot after firing.	Juan showing us the finished large pot with the avanyu, or horned-water-serpent motif, an ancient design.	The four surviving pots after being wiped off.	The two initial casualities of the firing of the six pots.
Juan bringing the four finished pots into his studio.	Juan and Mom displaying the pot we decided to purchase. This one has the four kiva steps representing the four directions, and the squash blossom design.	Juan and Mom at the display table in his studio at San Ildefonso Pueblo.	Juan sitting at the display table in his studio at San Ildefonso Pueblo.
Juan Tafoya's guard dog (that's what he called him!).	The shelf display in Juan's studio showing his pottery and items from other Native American artists.	The upper sheves in Juan's studio showing his private collection of his pottery.	One of Juan's black-on-black plates with a radiating feather design and a turquoise inlay in the center.

Go To: Luciano Family Home Go To: Juan Tafoya Pottery Intro Go To: Santa Fe 2001 Intro