Product Description
Black handmade Santa Clara vase with bear paw design. Circa 1960s by potter Severa Tafoya (1890–1973).
Severa Tafoya (1890-1973) is one of the most well known (d.)Santa Clara potters. She is listed in the book “14 families in pueblo pottery by Rick Dillingham” on pages 158-160. Severa’s mother was Leocadia Gutierrez and her father was Thomas Dozier. Her brother, also well known, Evangelo (Van) Gutierrez was married to Lela who died in 1969.
Severa married Cleto Tafoya. Her children who potted are Mary Agnes Tafoya 1925-1983 and Angela Baca, born in 1927 and married to Antonio Baca. Her daughter Lydia Tafoya 1923-1975, married Santiago Garcia. Lydia’s children are (d.)Tina Garcia, Greg Garcia and Virginia Garcia.
Severa’s daughter Maria Tafoya has children who are potters as well. They are Gwen Tafoya, Kathy Silva, Wanda Tafoya and Anita Povijua, Stephanie Fuentes and Epimenia Tafoya 1920-1962 who married Robert Nichols, who’s son Robert Cleto Nichols is a well respected potter as well.
Severa also had grandchildren who are potters, Paul Speckled Rock, Kenneth Tafoya and Ray Tafoya, David Baca, Leona Baca and Alvin Baca.