Red Starr

Lakota Sioux

Elmer Red Starr (Elk) was born into the Sioux Nation in Wisconsin in 1937. He married Harriet Tafoya of Santa Clara Pueblo and moved to her home there. He was inspired by his uncle, Charles Blunt Horn, his nephew Norman Red Star and cousin Swift Bird to learn to make pottery back in the 1970s. They all felt it would be a worthy addition to his wood and stone carving and oil painting pursuits.

He learned to use Santa Clara clays and methods to make his pieces. Then he decorated them sometimes with traditional Sioux sgraffito designs, sometimes with contemporary Santa Clara designs, often with a mix of both.

I first met Red Starr a couple years ago. Very interesting, very down-to-earth man. And while he was well on in years, his work was still simply beautiful.

Norman Red Star is his nephew.

Many collectors are fascinated by Red's work and it's highly sought after. He signs his work: "Red Starr" followed by an arrow and his census number.

Red Starr | Red Starr 2

Sgraffito animal and geometric design on a red bowl with inlaid turquoise accents

Red bowl with sgraffito animals and geometric design plus inlaid turquoise accents
2 in H by 3.5 in Dia

Sgraffito hummingbird, bear paw and feathers designs plus inlaid turquoise on a black wedding vase

Twisted handle on a black wedding vase decorated with sgraffito hummingbird, feathers and bear paw designs plus inlaid turquoise
10.5 in H by 8 in Dia

A mix of Sioux and Santa Clara sgraffito designs plus inlaid turquoise decorate a polished black jar

Polished black jar decorated with a mix of Sioux and Santa clara sgraffito designs plus inlaid stones
12.25 in H by 11.25 in Dia

Sgraffito bear and Sioux geometric designs decorate a polished black bowl with inlaid turquoise

Polished black jar decorated with sgraffito bear and Sioux geometric designs plus inlaid turquoise
3.75 in H by 3.5 in Dia

Sgraffito bear, bear claw and geometric design plus inlaid faux turquoise on a black jar

Black jar decorated with sgraffito bears, bar claws and feather designs plus inlaid faux turquoise
3.75 in H by 4.25 in Dia

Sgraffito Sioux bear, feather and geometric design on a black jar with faux turquoise inlays

Faux turquoise inlays on a black jar with sgraffito Sioux bear, feather and geometric design
2.25 in H by 3.25 in Dia

Sgraffito hummingbird, flower and geometric design on a red wedding vase

Red wedding vase with a sgraffito hummingbird, flower and geometric design
7 in H by 6.5 in Dia

Sgraffito Sioux, deer and geometric design on a black wedding vase with inlaid stones

Inlaid stones on a black wedding vase with sgraffito deer, Sioux and geometric design
5.75 in H by 5 in Dia

Sgraffito buffalo and Sioux design plus inlaid stones on a red jar

Red jar with sgraffito buffalo and Sioux design plus inlaid stones
2 in H by 3.5 in Dia

Sgraffito bear, wolf and Sioux design on a red jar with inlaid stones

Red jar with inlaid stones and sgraffito bear, wolf and Sioux design
2.25 in H by 3.5 in Dia

Sgarffito animal and geometric design on a black jar with inlaid stones

Black jar decorated with a sgraffito animal and geometric design plus inlaid stones
3.75 in H by 5 in Dia

Sgraffito Sioux design and inlaid stones on a black jar

Black jar decorated with sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones
3.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia

Sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones on a red jar

Red jar decorated with sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones
9.5 in H by 10.5 in Dia

Sgraffito wildlife, nature and Sioux design on a black jar with inlaid stones

Black jar with inlaid stones and sgraffito nature, wildlife and Sioux design
9.5 in H by 10 in Dia

Red jar decorated with a sgraffito hummingbird, feather, flower and geometric design plus inlaid stones

Red jar decorated with a sgraffito feather, hummingbird, flower and geometric design plus inlaid stones
2.25 in H by 3.5 in Dia

Miniature red jar decorated with a sgraffito squirrel, feather and geometric design

A sgraffito squirrel, feather and geometric design decorate this miniature red jar
1.5 in H by 1.75 in Dia

Red Starr | Red Starr 2

Native American Pottery

Through the Eyes of the Pot

Red Starr

Lakota Sioux