Handmade Pottery Star Ornament by Hilda Tenorio Coriz

Stars are one of the most beautiful symbols of the holiday season, and Hilda Tenorio Coriz of Santo Domingo or Kewa Pueblo created beautiful ornaments of pottery stars. She hand formed each ornament of sparkly micaceous clay and then hand painted the front with beautiful motifs.

Martha Struever had a few of Hilda Tenorio's stars in her collection, and each one was different.

This ornament is painted with a chile pepper ristra which is a string of dried chile peppers you often see hanging from New Mexico homes - especially after the harvest and during the holidays. They're a symbol of welcome and abundance.

Its creator, Hilda, was born Hilda Tenorio in 1949 at Santo Domingo Pueblo. She learned pottery making from her brother, Robert Tenorio. She eventually married Arthur Coriz and helped teach him the art of pottery making. Together, they became an award-winning team of full-time pottery artists until Arthur's death in 1998 and Hilda's in 2007. 

You'll notice two Santa Pig holiday ornaments that were created by Ione Coriz, Arthur and Hilda's daughter who has followed in the family tradition.

How special to have this lucky symbol from New Mexico handmade by a Santo Domingo pottery hanging on your Christmas tree.

Hilda's ristra star ornament measures 2 5/8" x 2 1/2" and is signed Hilda Tenorio on the reverse. It's from Martha Struever's private Christmas ornament collection.