Santa Clara Pueblo Black Pottery By Yolanda Valenda

Late 20th Century

7.25″ H x 4.625″ D

Hand Coiled with Glossy Finish and a Matte Finish Feather Design

From a Private Colorado Collection

In Very Good Condition

Yolanda Velarde is from Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, a renowned center for traditional Pueblo pottery, especially polished blackware (black-on-black). She comes from a family of potters: granddaughter of Flora Naranjo and daughter of Frances Salazar (sometimes listed as Frances Moquino or similar). She learned the craft from her mother and grandmother, becoming active in the market around 1984. Her work typically features hand-coiled, stone-polished black pottery with carved (sgraffito or incised) designs, such as the avanyu (water serpent), feathers, geometric patterns, or other traditional motifs. Pieces are often signed on the bottom as “Yolanda Velarde” or “Yolanda Velarde Santa Clara.” This style is classic Santa Clara black pottery: clay is fired in a reducing atmosphere (smothered with manure or dung) to achieve the deep black color and high polish, then carved before firing for contrast between matte carved areas and shiny surfaces.