Lounging Mudhead on Ear of Corn - Miniature Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery Figurine

• SPC7

Handcrafted miniature pottery mudhead figurine by Dorothy & Paul Gutierrez, Santa Clara Pueblo, circa 1985. Measures 1.5 inches long x 1.5 inches wide.

Dorothy (Corn Maiden) and Paul (White Corn) Gutierrez were both born in 1940, he into Santa Clara Pueblo, she into the Navajo Nation. Paul's grandparents were Lela and Van Gutierrez, his father Luther (of the renowned Margaret and Luther Gutierrez). Paul began working with clay around the age of twelve while Dorothy first touched clay in day school. Paul passed in 2017 and Dorothy stopped making pottery in 2022.

Dorothy and Paul specialized in figurative pottery, especially mudheads (koshares) sculpted into whimsical positions, in both red and black. They worked as a team with Dorothy forming the figures and Paul doing the polishing and finish work. They follow the traditional methods from the first gathering of the clay through processing it, forming the pieces, polishing, defining further, then firing, praying every step of the way. As Paul once said, "They come out different each time, with different faces. It’s nice." Their creations range from miniatures to about 6 inches tall. 

Dorothy and Paul earned multiple 1st and 2nd Place ribbons at shows like the Eight Northern Pueblos Arts & Crafts Show, Santa Fe Indian Market, Heard Museum Guild Indian Art Fair & Market and the Gallup InterTribal Ceremonials.

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• $60.00