Red Starr

Lakota Sioux

Elmer Red Starr (Elk) was born into the Sioux Nation in Wisconsin in 1937. He married Harriet Tafoya of Santa Clara Pueblo and moved to her home there. He was inspired by his uncle, Charles Blunt Horn, his nephew Norman Red Star and cousin Swift Bird to learn to make pottery back in the 1970s. They all felt it would be a worthy addition to his wood and stone carving and oil painting pursuits.

He learned to use Santa Clara clays and methods to make his pieces. Then he decorated them sometimes with traditional Sioux sgraffito designs, sometimes with contemporary Santa Clara designs, often with a mix of both.

I first met Red Starr a couple years ago. Very interesting, very down-to-earth man. And while he was well on in years, his work was still simply beautiful.

Norman Red Star is his nephew.

Many collectors are fascinated by Red's work and it's highly sought after. He signs his work: "Red Starr" followed by an arrow and his census number.

Sgraffito animal and geometric design on a red bowl with inlaid turquoise accents
Red bowl with sgraffito animals and geometric design plus inlaid turquoise accents
2 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Sgraffito hummingbird, bear paw and feathers designs plus inlaid turquoise on a black wedding vase
Twisted handle on a black wedding vase decorated with sgraffito hummingbird, feathers and bear paw designs plus inlaid turquoise
10.5 in H by 8 in Dia
A mix of Sioux and Santa Clara sgraffito designs plus inlaid turquoise decorate a polished black jar
Polished black jar decorated with a mix of Sioux and Santa clara sgraffito designs plus inlaid stones
12.25 in H by 11.25 in Dia
Sgraffito bear and Sioux geometric designs decorate a polished black bowl with inlaid turquoise
Polished black jar decorated with sgraffito bear and Sioux geometric designs plus inlaid turquoise
3.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Sgraffito bear, bear claw and geometric design plus inlaid faux turquoise on a black jar
Black jar decorated with sgraffito bears, bar claws and feather designs plus inlaid faux turquoise
3.75 in H by 4.25 in Dia
Sgraffito Sioux bear, feather and geometric design on a black jar with faux turquoise inlays
Faux turquoise inlays on a black jar with sgraffito Sioux bear, feather and geometric design
2.25 in H by 3.25 in Dia
Sgraffito hummingbird, flower and geometric design on a red wedding vase
Red wedding vase with a sgraffito hummingbird, flower and geometric design
7 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Sgraffito Sioux, deer and geometric design on a black wedding vase with inlaid stones
Inlaid stones on a black wedding vase with sgraffito deer, Sioux and geometric design
5.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Sgraffito buffalo and Sioux design plus inlaid stones on a red jar
Red jar with sgraffito buffalo and Sioux design plus inlaid stones
2 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Sgraffito bear, wolf and Sioux design on a red jar with inlaid stones
Red jar with inlaid stones and sgraffito bear, wolf and Sioux design
2.25 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Sgarffito animal and geometric design on a black jar with inlaid stones
Black jar decorated with a sgraffito animal and geometric design plus inlaid stones
3.75 in H by 5 in Dia
Sgraffito Sioux design and inlaid stones on a black jar
Black jar decorated with sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones
3.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones on a red jar
Red jar decorated with sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones
9.5 in H by 10.5 in Dia
Sgraffito wildlife, nature and Sioux design on a black jar with inlaid stones
Black jar with inlaid stones and sgraffito nature, wildlife and Sioux design
9.5 in H by 10 in Dia
Red jar decorated with a sgraffito hummingbird, feather, flower and geometric design plus inlaid stones Red jar decorated with a sgraffito feather, hummingbird, flower and geometric design plus inlaid stones
2.25 in H by 3.5 in Dia
Miniature red jar decorated with a sgraffito squirrel, feather and geometric design A sgraffito squirrel, feather and geometric design decorate this miniature red jar
1.5 in H by 1.75 in Dia