Sara Fina Tafoya

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Sara Fina Gutiérrez Tafoya
Autumn Leaf
Sara Fina Tafoya - portrait c. 1900 by unknown photographaer.jpg
Sara Fina Tafoya around 1900
Died1949(1949-00-00) (aged 85–86)
New Mexico
NationalityTewa, Santa Clara Pueblo, American
Spouse(s)José Geronimo Tafoya, "White Flower"[1]
Parent(s)
  • Filomena Cajete Gutiérrez[1] (mother)

Sara Fina Gutiérrez Tafoya (1863-1949)[2] (sometimes spelled Serafina Tafoya) was a Tewa matriarch potter from Kha'po Owingeh (in Tewa: [xɑ̀ʔp’òː ʔówîŋgè]), New Mexico.

Tafoya is known for her minimally-adorned blackware and black-on-black ware, frequently marked with the imprint of a bear claw motif.[3] She has been referred to as "undoubtedly the outstanding Tewa potter of her time."[4] The Tafoya family lineage of Puebloan potters "goes as far back as records exist."[5] Tafoya's work consisted primarily of large-scale vessels that were marked with concave and convex impressions and carved designs.[6]

Personal life[]

Tafoya married Geronimo Tafoya with whom she had eight children.[6] Many of her children, grand-children, great-grand children and extended family became well-known potters including Margaret Tafoya, LuAnn Tafoya, Tammy Garcia, Nathan Youngblood and others.[4]

Collections[]

Her work is included in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago,[2] the Denver Art Museum,[7] the Mount Hoyoke College Art Museum,[8] the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,[9] among other private and public collections.

Gallery[]

  • Wedding vase by Sara Fina Tafoya

  • Sara Fina Tafoya firing blackware pottery at Santa Clara Pueblo, c. 1900

  • Geronimo and Sara Fina Tafoya c. 1900

References[]

  1. ^ a b Blair, Mary Ellen; Blair, Laurence (1986). Margaret Tafoya: A Tewa Potter's Heritage and Legacy. West Chester, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-88740-080-9.
  2. ^ a b "Sara Fina Tafoya". Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  3. ^ McLister, Iris (18 August 2017). "Immortal coils: "Spoken Through Clay" celebrates Native pottery". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b Martin, Douglas (5 March 2001). "Margaret Tafoya, 96, Pueblo Potter Whose Work Found a Global Audience". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Margaret Tafoya". National Endowment for the Arts. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Kin and Kiln: Tafoya Black-on-Black Ware". Bowers Museum. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Jar, Sara Fina Tafoya". Denver Art Museum. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Double Shoulder Jar". Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Serafina Tafoya". Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Retrieved 22 May 2021.

See also[]

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