NATIVE AMERICAN KEWA POTTERY VASE BY ROBERT TENORIO

Description

Kewa potter Robert Tenorio is known for his polychrome pots created in the traditional Santo Domingo style, which typically features a red base and red interior and black designs painted on a buff background.  This exquisite vase is created in this manner.  Robert was born in 1950 into the Santo Domingo “Kewa” Pueblo.  He began working with clay at the age of 10.  He was taught all the fundamentals of hand coiling pottery using traditional methods from his family members.  He gathers his clay and other natural pigments from within the Santo Domingo Pueblo.  Then, he soaks the clay, cleans, sifts, mixes, hand coils, shapes, sands, paints, and fires his pottery, outdoors, using cottonwood bark.  The colors he uses to paint his pottery with are basically derived from native plants also hand picked by Robert, which are boiled together to complete his masterpieces.  A unique addition to any pottery or Native American art collection.  Signed

5  3/8” tall x 6  1/8″ long x 6  1/8″ wide

Artist card included

Santo Domingo pueblo one of the largest of the Northern pueblos.  Santo Domingo pottery can be distinguished by its buff colored clay, cream slip, and dark black geometric designs.  The elastic clay at Santo Domingo lends itself to large forms such as storage jars, dough bowls, and large ollas.  The designs are mainly geometric with particular attention to the negative spaces.  Occasionally there will also be elaborate bird motifs and polychrome designs.

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