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Design Elements
Design Elements: Carving
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Black jar carved with an avanyu and geometric design,by Margaret Tafoya, Santa Clara
6 1/4 in H by 11 1/4 in Dia
Red jar carved with a stylized avanyu design,by Margaret Tafoya, Santa Clara
6 1/2 in H by 5 3/4 in Dia
Oval black bowl carved with an avanyu design,by Daryl Whitegeese, Santa Clara
4 1/4 in H by 11 in Dia
Red bowl carved with a four direction geometric design,by Effie Garcia, Santa Clara
2 1/2 in H by 5 in Dia
Carving is primarily used for decorating pots by potters from Santa Clara Pueblo, although it has also been seen on pottery from Acoma, San Ildefonso, Mata Ortiz, Laguna and Hopi. Some contemporary pottery also uses "light carving" as a term to distinguish between the deep carving used on thick body pieces and the sgraffito (etching, scratching) often used on thinner body pieces.
Margaret Tafoya, the pottery matriarch of Santa Clara, is most famous for her carved pieces but many of her descendants have carried on in that tradition and become award-winning potters in their own right.
Lightly carved avanyu design on a black jar with a sienna rim,by Dora Tse-Pe, San Ildefonso
8 1/2 in H by 9 1/4 in Dia
Lightly carved geometric design on a polychrome jar,by Octavio Silveira, Mata Ortiz
8 in H by 5 3/4 in Dia
Measurement includes ring