Calvin Analla Jr.

Laguna Pueblo


Calvin Analla Jr.

Born in 1960, Calvin Analla Jr. is a traditional Laguna Pueblo potter from the village of Paguate (about eight miles north of Old Laguna). He started creating his style of pottery in 1990 while observing his paternal grandmother, Evelyn Cheromiah, and his aunt, Lee Ann Cheromiah.

He harvests his clay from local Laguna sources and molds and shapes his pots using the traditional hand-coil method. He polishes by rubbing smooth river stones against the damp pottery. The black paint is processed from cooking wild spinach and adding crushed hematite, a rock mineral. The process is finished by firing in red cedar and sheep manure in a fire pit.

One day in his workshop Calvin ran out of clay. His brother-in-law, Hopi potter Steve Lucas, was visiting so Calvin asked him for a handful of Hopi clay. Steve gave it to him and the results led to a series of experiments combining the clays of Hopi and Laguna. That is what gave birth to Calvin's signature marbled look. His pottery is also differentiated by his thin walls, scalloped edges and fine painted lines.

Black geometric design on a Mixed clay jar with a scalloped rim
Mixed clay jar with a black geometric design and a scalloped rim
4 in H by 5.25 in Dia
A male kachina design on a Mixed clay jar
Polychrome Mixed clay jar decorated with a male kachina design
4 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Polychrome geometric design on a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay jar decorated with a polychrome geometric design
5.25 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay jar with a scalloped rim
Mixed clay jar with a scalloped rim and decorated with a geometric design
3 in H by 5.25 in Dia

Mixed canteen with medallion and geometric designs
6 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Measurement includes ring
Black geometric design on a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay jar with a black geometric design
5.5 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay pot
Mixed clay pot with geometric design
5.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay pot
Mixed clay pot with geometric design
6 in H by 6.25 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay pot
Mixed clay pot with geometric design
5 in H by 5 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay jar with a geometric design
6 in H by 5.75 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay bowl
Mixed clay bowl with geometric design
4.25 in H by 5.75 in Dia
Geometric design on a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay jar with a geometric design
5.25 in H by 5 in Dia
Star design on a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay jar with star design
6 in H by 5.5 in Dia
Geometric designs around the rim of a Mixed clay jar
Mixed clay bowl decorated with black geometric designs around the rim
3.5 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Cloud, fine line and geometric design on a Mixed clay bowl
Mixed clay bowl decorated with fine line, cloud and geometric designs
4.5 in H by 6.5 in Dia
Black fine line, cloud and geometric designs on a Mixed clay bowl with a scalloped rim
Mixed clay bowl with a scalloped rim decorated with black fine line, cloud and geometric designs
4.25 in H by 6.5 in Dia

Laguna Pueblo Potters