PUEBLO POTTERY

CASAS GRANDES

COLLECTOR POTTERY

Fine Pueblo Pottery

Fine Pueblo Pottery

OVERVIEW of Collector Pottery

This page lists pottery pieces that qualify as collector's items because of special features. Uncommon design elements, combinations of such elements, or shapes of pots that make them essentially unique are considered special. Also, some of the pieces listed have been made by artists who are either no longer alive or are not actively making as much pottery (if at all) any more as they may have done in the past. Pueblo as well as Mata Ortiz pottery is listed. Some of the pieces may also appear in other pages under the appropriate pueblo, but this page provides a more extensive set of pictures of the pottery.

Famous Pueblo Owl Collection

Eva Histia, Jackie Shutiva Histia, and Laura gachupin make possibly the most famous owl effigies in the American Pueblos of the South Western US. Eva is well known as the old grand dame of pueblo owls the expressions on the face of the birds being almost life like. Jackie is an award-winning potter from Acoma whose corrugated structures and effigies are world renown. Taught by her mother, Stalla Shutiva, Jackie is continuing the tradition set by Stella and produces pottery that is truly a work of art. Her creative talent has been recognized in the many awards that she has received in the Santa Fe Indian Market and other pottery competitions. Her owls in particular are favorites with collectors. Laura Gachupin Jemez owls with the uplifted feathers that look almost real is herself a potter most favored by collectors. we were able also to obtain an owl by laura's grandmother, Persingula Gachupin. This is an older pot and shows a bit of fraying at the top of the head, but including it in this collection gives the set an aura of completeness.

The dimensions of the pots are as follows: The white corrugated owl measures 5 inches by 7 1/2 inches, the owl by Eva Histia is 11 inches by 8 inches, the one by Laura Gachupin measures 4 inches by 4 1/2 inches, and the pot by Persingula Gachupin is 5.5 inches tall. With exception of the fraying on the pot by Persingula, the pots are in excellent condition without scratches or other defects.

Item No.: A0350
Artist: Pueblo Owls
Size: See description above
Price:

Stella and Jackie Shutiva Mother-Daughter Corrugated Pottery _ Acoma

Stella Shutiva is credited for bringing to perfection the art of utilitarian corrugated pottery at Acoma. This style of decoration was revived by Stella's mother Jessie Garcia who taught it to Stella. Stella devoted four years of hard work in the process of learning the fingertip design. She not only brought her mother's creation to fruition but elevated it to a true art form. Stella and spent her career almost exclusively devoted to making white corrugated wares. Adding painted designs to small portions of her pottery was an addition late in her career.

This large seed jar with a lid is larger than most pieces made by Stella. Generally her jars were about half the volume of this. This is an excellent example of her finest work and it is in excellent condition. The pot measures 5 inches tall by 8 inches in diameter.

Jackie Shutiva Histia , is Stella's daughter and an award-winning potter from Acoma whose corrugated structures and effigies are world renown. Taught by her mother, Stella Shutiva, Jackie is continuing the tradition set by her and produces pottery that is truly a work of art. Her creative talent has been recognized in the many awards that she has received in the Santa Fe Indian Market and other pottery competitions.

The present seed pot measures 7 inches high by 6 inches in diameter and has an additional artistic expression rendered to it by the exquisitely and delicately painted handles.

The combination of pottery by mother and daughter is particularly impressive up close. It is not only a highly collectible combination but decorative as well.

Item No.: A0340
Artist: Stella and Jackie Shutiva Corrugated pottery set
Size: See description above
Price: Stella Shutiva
Price: Pot by Jackie still available

MATA ORTIZ POTTERY

Lucero, Ruben Lozano

Ruben Lozano Lucero produces black pottery that is so highly polished that is as reflective as a mirror. His gunmetal finish is famous world wide. The quality of his work is attested to by the First Prizeblack polished pot in National Exhibition of Folk Art. The award was handed to him President Salinas of Mexico himself.

Ruben makes pottery that is ideal for collecting or decorating. The two-piece set shown here is assembled with either of these goals in mind. It consists of a very rare bowl and an equally unusual flying saucer. These were requested from Ruben specially for the purpose of building this set.

The results of his efforts are true to form: The pottery is strikingly shiny and so well polished that it can almost be used as a mirror (if not for the curved surfaces.) I hope you like what you see!

Item No.: MO.278
Artist: Ruben Lozano Lucero
Description: Pottery set
Description: Bowl: 5 1/2 H x 14 1/2 D
Description: Flying Saucer: 7 H x 12 D
Price:

Ortiz, Nicolas

Nicolas Ortiz creates effigies that are world famous. His rabbits, turtles, owls and bears holding a fish in their moths are true marvels. The present offering is both the first and the only one he has made. We asked him to make a dragon that resembled a wooden Comodo dragon and this marvel came some time later.

Item No.: MO.256
Artist: Nicolas Ortiz
Description: 13 in L
Price:

Quezada, Reynaldo

This remarkable set of pottery pieces was hand formed by Reynaldo Quezada, a premier potter and an incredibly innovative artist in Mata Ortiz. Reynaldo is Juan Quezada's youngest brother and was taught the art of pottery making by Juan himself and his other brother, Nicolas. His inventions include the clay mixing called mezclado that gives a marbleized appearance to the finished olla. Reynaldo is featured prominently on page 169 of the book ``The Many Faces Of Mata Ortiz''.

The corrugated pieces offered here represent Reynaldo's second claim to fame. They include the three main shapes that he makes in this style: A large bowl, measuring 16 inches across by 6 inches deep, and is carved both inside and out, an olla, or better said a bombilla 10 inches in diameter by about 11 1/2 inches high, and the rare flying saucer. This is particularly hard to find in this size, measuring 13 inches across by 4 1/2 deep. The pieces make a stunning display as a centerpiece in a living room, dining room, or exhibition room. It is meant for the serious collector who wishes to acquire the best of Mata Ortiz pottery.

Item No.: MO.254a
Artist: Reynaldo Quezadada
Size: Display Set
Price:

Quezada, Nicolas

Nicolas Quezada is Juan Quezada's brother and arguably among the top four potters in Mata Ortiz. He has an unending enthusiasm for working with the clay, and his inventiveness and innovation are literally unparalleled. His designs are pure elegance. He paints long, sharp, curving and still uniformly spaced lines and bands on pottery whose color, like the grey background on the present offering, comes from special combinations of different clays that Nicolas has introduced. Nicolas is discussed on pages 160-163 of the book The Many faces of Mata Ortiz.

The bowl shown here is just another example of his love of pottery. It is a large piece, measuring 14.5 inches across by 5 1/2 inches deep, and it is decorated with superbly executed, sweeping bands with eye-dazzling fine-line work that also bears the heads of fish that seem to circle around the pot. The stand is also decorated to match the bowl.

The bowl shown is very similar to the one shown on page 162 of the book The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz. This bowl/stand combination was pioneered by Nicolas and the present item is now a classic.

Item No.: MO.049
Artist: Nicolas Quezada
Size: 5 1/2 in H x 13.5 in D
Price: 2,999

Quezada, Noe

Noe Quezada is the son and heir apparent of Juan Quezada, the man who reinvented pottery making in Mata Ortiz and has brought a new and spectacular artistic expression to the world. Noe himself is an acknowledged master potter ands this pot serves as testament to thatclassification. This is a signature Noe Quezada pot bearing a design that he no longer makes. Also, the handles give it a unique aspect as pottery with handles is essentially non-existent and Noe is not known to have made another. The pot is a true polychrome with no defects. (Please note that the lighter paint that appears near the center of every picture is due to the lighting conditions, not because of a blemish on the pot.)

Item No.: MO.117
Artist: Noe Quezada
Size: 8 in H x 10 in D
Price: 2,750

Villalba, Sabino

Andres Villalba was the grand master of tradition and fidelity to traditional ways of pottery decoration. His effigies were legendary. And so was his rendition of the ancient Paquime designs to which he stuck faithfully to the very end. Andres died of pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2001 but his legend lives on in the person of his son, Sabino Villalba. Sabino's artistry is considered the equal of his famous father and is now actively sought by collectors world wide.

We asked Sabino to create a Paquime pair, a matching set of a male and female effigies and the result is to marvel at in the offering listed here. The squatting posture of the effigies is that often found on ancient pottery snd the designs on the figures are identical!

Item No.: MO.235
Artist: Sabino Villalba
Size: (Approx) M:10 in H x 8 in D, F: 9 1/2 in H x 8 in D
Price: