Black on Black Carved Bowl (#29)
Elizabeth Naranjo (b.1929) — Santa Clara Pueblo
Santa Clara is well recognized for black carved pottery. The designs are carved into the leather hard clay body of the pot before firing. The pot is slipped and polished following the carving. The stepped designs represent mountains. The black color is accomplished through the smothering of fire with crushed dung, causing the fire smoke to carbonize the surface of the pot.