Vintage Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handetched Seed Pot

Description

1980s Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handetched Seed Pot by Camilio Tafoya (Sunflower) (1902-1995)

This spectacular seed pot is wonderfully etched with hares running through the grass. In the fall the women would take the seeds for next Spring and place them in these pots and then stack them. These pots would be placed in the corner of their home, stacked so the bottom of one pot would seal the top of the other. This storage technique would save space and keep the rodents from ruining next years' seed crop. Camilio “Sunflower” Tafoya was a son of Sara Fina Tafoya and Geronimo Tafoya; brother of Margaret Tafoya and Christina Naranjo. Camilio was married to Agapita Tafoya and made carved pottery in the 1950s and 60s. In the 1970s he began to create miniatures. His pottery would have images of Pueblo life and animals scenes. Camilio's pottery can be found in many collections and is displayed at multiple museums worldwide. This piece was in a private collection.