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Design Elements: Sgraffito
Red seed pot decorated with a sgraffito and painted quail, sun face and geometric design
by Joseph Lonewolf, Santa Clara
2 in H by 2.25 in Dia
Black jar with sienna rim and spots decorated with sgraffito avanyu, bear paws, kiva step and geometric design
by Sammy Naranjo, Santa Clara
4.25 in H by 5 in Dia
Black seed pot with sienna spots decorated with a sgraffito feather, horned toad and geometric design
by Dean Haungooah, Santa Clara
1.25 in H by 1.75 in Dia
As a design element in the Native American pottery world, sgraffito* was first introduced to the marketplace mostly by a group of potters from Santa Clara. Joseph Lonewolf was the most prominent among them but the group also included Camilio Tafoya of Santa Clara, Corn Moquino, of Hopi and Zia heritage but married into Santa Clara, and Juan Roybal of San Ildefonso. Sgraffito is similar to etching in that the surface of the vessel is scratched with an implement to create a design. The form has developed to where some potters put one (or more) slips on the clay form of their vessel, then scratch that surface before firing the piece, while others apply one (or more) slips to their vessel and fire it before scratching the surface. It depends on the final effect they are trying to achieve.
*Sgraffito: from the Italian for etching or scratching designs into the surface of a piece of artwork.
Polychrome jar decorated with a sgraffito and painted floral and hummingbird design
by Martin Olivas, Mata Ortiz
6.25 in H by 5.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Gunmetal black plate decorated with a sgraffito avanyu design
by Tony Da, San Ildefonso
1.75 in H by 11 in Dia
Black and white jar decorated with a sgraffito Night of the Dead motif
by Hector Javier Martinez, Mata Ortiz
8 in H by 6.25 in Dia
Measurement includes stand
Black jar decorated with sgraffito Sioux design plus inlaid stones
by Red Starr, Sioux
3.75 in H by 5.25 in Dia