Native American Santa Clara Pueblo Sophie Cata pot with polished black slip and incised bear paw design on one side.

Sophie Cato “Eagle Feather Basket” was born in 1957, the daughter of Frances Naranjo Salazar of Santa Clara Pueblo and granddaughter of Flora Naranjo. These wise and talented family members taught Sophie how to pot in the Santa Clara tradtions. By the age of 6 she was forming pots.

Sophie creates hand-coiled pots from clay and sand (temper) collected on the Santa Clara Pueblo. This detailed attention to the base material results in some natural imperfections. After the basic pot is dried in open air, Sophie draws her designs on it, following with carving the out the incised areas.

The next step is sanding for a smooth surface and a refined symmetry. A clay slip is applied, and the pot is polished using a polishing stone. The pot is fired in an open outdoor kiln, as those she follows did years ago., reaching temperatures of 800 Fahrenheit. Animal dung is added to the fire to turn the surface black if that is the desired finish.

Among her favorite designs, according to Sophie, are bear paws, as shown in this example of her beautiful work. It is signed: “Sophie Cata, Santa Clara Pueblo.”
3 1/2" x 4" #PJ47

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