Santa Clara Pueblo Blackware Wedding Vase by Birdell Bourdon

This striking hand-coiled blackware wedding vase was created by Birdell Bourdon, “Vine Flower,” born into the Santa Clara-Tewa Pueblo in 1957. Birdell learned the traditional methods of Santa Clara pottery from her mother, Marie Sisneros, and has been creating pottery since the age of 10. Her work reflects generations of Pueblo artistry, using clay gathered from Santa Clara Pueblo tribal clay pits, hand-coiled, shaped, polished, and pit-fired outdoors in the traditional way. The surface features beautifully incised designs that enhance the vase’s deep black polish, a hallmark of Santa Clara pottery. Birdell specializes in a variety of forms, from bowls to wedding vases like this one, often incorporating elegant melon patterns and symbolic designs. Her pieces have been featured in respected publications including Working with Clay, Collections of Southwestern Pottery, and Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies. Details: Artist: Birdell Bourdon (Santa Clara Pueblo) Form: Wedding Vase Material: Hand-coiled Santa Clara Pueblo blackware pottery Technique: Traditional outdoor firing and stone polishing Condition: Good no chips or cracks minor wear due to age and handling. Has traditional etched geometric motifs A collectible and culturally significant piece, ideal for Southwestern art enthusiasts and serious collectors of Pueblo pottery.