| Geri Naranjo | |
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Geri Naranjo is the sister of Dolores Curran and has been
actively potting since 1975. She is known for her miniature black sgrafito
pots. She has been exhibiting since
1980 and has won numerous awards from 1980 to 1998 in the miniature pottery division, including "Best of Division"
three years in a row at the Santa Fe Indian Market. Santa Clara Pueblo is known for it's beautiful, highly polished pottery. The pottery is formed from raw materials found on the tribal lands. The pottery is then formed and finished by hand, work such as coiling, molding and sanding are very important to the way the pot will look when finished. Like all good Santa Clara pottery, the high gloss on this pot was achieved by polishing the surface with a smooth stone...a very tedious process. Three and sometimes as many as five layers of slip are applied to the smooth dried work, allowing a little time between coats to dry, and then followed by a lubricating coat of animal fat. The fat serves two purposes, one, it allows the stone to slide smoothly over the surface, and two, it keeps the slip damp. At this point, Geri incises the intricate design by using thin bladed knives to literally carve the design into the clay. The work is then fired in an outdoor open-air fire pit using wood as fuel. Manure is used to smother the fire at the last stage of firing, and it is this technique that causes the pottery to turn black. This extraordinarily fine and detailed blackware pot has sgrafito and is embellished with a highly stylized incised Avanyu or water serpent that encircles the pot just above the equator. The Avanyu is known for guarding and protecting water, rivers and streams on the Pueblo. Above the Avanyu is a row of parrot feathers and under the opening is a row of water waves. Below the Avanyu are many stylized traditional symbols. The precision and high polish of Geri's pots is truly amazing. Miniatures in themselves are very difficult to make and Geri, like her sister Dolores, has definitely mastered the art. As you can see in the pictures, the incising is extremely crisp and precise. The polishing of the black is very deep and highly reflective. Keep in mind that the pictures have been enlarged to show the amazing detail. Geri is featured in many books, including "Southwestern Pottery" by Allan Hayes on pages 140 and 141, in "Pueblo Pottery Families" by Lillian Peaster on pages 142, in "Magic in Clay" by Norman & Bernice Harris on page 14 and 25, and in "Pueblo Indian Pottery" by Gregory Schaaf on pages 65. The pot is new, in perfect condition and is signed on the bottom: "Geri Naranjo, Santa Clara." |
| If
you are interested in this collectible, please call 602-769-9190 or e-mail: tim@tribalcollectors.com |
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