Vintage Acoma Pottery Bear

Here's a tiny vintage pottery bear created at Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico otherwise known as Sky City because the traditional village is perched 367 feet atop a tall sandstone mesa and dates back to the 12th century (maybe even before). 

Acoma is known for producing fine pottery, mostly in white clay and painted with black pigment.

When you take a guided tour atop Acoma Pueblo, you'll visit with different families selling their pottery creations, like this bear, displayed on tables outside their often multi-story adobe homes.

This teeny Acoma bear is traditionally black and white with a single "red" sun extending from the heart line that runs from his happy mouth. He was brought to life by an Acoma potter with the initials BLS, and marked on the bottom. Acoma potters were traditionally women.

The bear was part of a beloved collection of tiny animals - mostly fetish figures. It's one of only a few little pottery animals in the collection.

It measures 1 3/4" long x 3/4" tall and 5/8" wide.

If you have the chance visit Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico it's a must do, but until you're able let this sweet creature fill your home with a little bit of Acoma's spirit.

The bear's original collector was a beautiful woman who grew up in Germany during World War II. Post war, she moved to the United States and became a model in New York City. She eventually married, left her modeling career, and moved to El Paso with her husband. In El Paso, she first experienced the charm of Native American art and jewelry. 

Many years later, she attended her first of several celebrated Native American art field trips hosted by Martha Struever. During this time, she expanded her collection of Native American art and jewelry. In fact, on at least one of her field trips, she visited Acoma and likely purchased this bear. Her collection wasn't vast, but it was extremely meaningful to her. She had special love for bears as depicted in fetishes, pottery and jewelry.

After a long and full life, this dear woman recently passed away. She knew that her collection which she lovingly called her "treasures" was to be handled by Turquoise & Tufa, and she expressed her wishes that these dear pieces would bring as much joy to us as they did to her.