1960's Santa Clara Pot by Belen Tapia

1960's Santa Clara Pot by Belen Tapia

Dimensions:-

Height: 9"

Width: 9 1/2"

Opening: 4"

Tribe:  Santa Clara 

Item #: 400032

Artist:

Belen Tapia 

Belen Tapia (1914-1999) Belen Tapia was a daughter of Tomas and Maria Tafoya. She was a niece of Serafina Tafoya and first cousin of Margaret Tafoya. She was active making pottery from about 1935 to 1995. She began making pottery in the 1930s, credited as an innovator of Santa Clara polychrome redware pottery. However, by the 1950’s she was making primarily carved pottery with unique designs and forms. By the 1980’s she was again making polychrome pottery, bringing her artistry full circle. 

 Her designs took on the forms of animals, wedding vases, melon jars, plates, cylinders, vases and engagement baskets. The colors; peach, blue, ochre, and white are all natural clay slips. Her second husband, Ernest Tapia, traveled to hidden corners of the Pajarito Plateau and gathered the blue-grey, umber tan, salmon orange and white clays that he ground very fine to make the paints they both used to decorate her pots. 

Belen participated in the Santa Fe Indian Market from 1979 to 1995, winning a number of ribbons including a Best of Division and a First Place in 1980. Belen Tapia's legacy continues to influence and inspire contemporary potters from the Santa Clara Pueblo.