lthough Acoma Pueblo is a spread of villages-Acomita, McCartys, Anzac, San Fidel, and Seama, every visitor is drawn to the Sky City, the old pueblo, so inaccessible that it discouraged the greedy Coronado from attempting its capture. Since the eighteenth century Acoma potters have made thin- walled, large ollas, slipped in pure white and decorated in red and black. In 1880 the railroad brought tourists whose small suitcases made the creation of eccentric little pieces an economic necessity. Lucy Lewis became the most famous Acoma potter, and next to Maria Martinez of San Ildefonso, possibly the best-known of all Southwestern potters. The equally talented and productive Marie Zieu Chino seems to have been largely ignored by writers, editors, and publishers even though both Lucy and Marie had lengthy careers, had famous potter children, and both influenced the pottery of their pueblo for years. Unfortunately for both families, none of the grandchildren have managed to achieve any celebrity as potters.

ven under the steady influence of the Lewis/Chino tradition, the economic pressures to use kiln-fired and greenware pottery intensified to the point that, the amount of traditionally made pottery dwindled steadily through the 1980"s. Despite such forces, a few excellent potters have bucked the trend while more educated collectors have make the use of greenware less rewarding by their avoidance of such work. While some potters like Jackie Histia have put a new spin on her mother's work, Diane Lewis, Carolyn Concho, and sister-in-law Sharon are clearly building a major style for the Lewis family. The work of Evelyn Chino or Bernice Cerno show the ways something new can be done with the legacy of Lucy Lewis/Marie Chino. One need only examine Florence Aragon's exquisite ollas, Tina Eagle's masterful vases or Dorothy Torivio's eye dazzling fineline to know the old ways are alive and well in Acoma.

 

ITEM# 0006P Rachel Concho, Acoma.

A highly stylized seed pot from a member of the Concho Family. Lizards with geometric pattern of the Acoma Pueblo.

Size: 3-1/2" high by 4" diameter.
Price: $495. Mint Condition.
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ITEM# 0114P Charmaine Natsaway, Acoma.

This unusual pyramid pottery was crafted by the wife of Thomas Natsaway, a renowned potter. Each side of the pyramid shows white space with various figures in each triangle (hump back flute player, membres style lizard, turtle, kachina, and antelope) with a black, gray, and white checkerboard pattern below each figure. An undecorated white stopper finishes this beautiful piece at the top.

 

Size: 5" high by 1.88" wide.
Price: $910. Mint Condition.
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More Acoma Pottery.