Beautiful Vintage Signed Juanita Fragua Jemez Pueblo Hand-Coiled Pottery Wedding Vase

Details

Description

Artist: Juanita Fragua (1935–2023)
Pueblo: Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa), New Mexico
Medium: Hand-coiled and hand-painted pottery with natural clay slip and … Read more Artist: Juanita Fragua (1935–2023)
Pueblo: Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa), New Mexico
Medium: Hand-coiled and hand-painted pottery with natural clay slip and mineral pigments
Measurements: Approximately 9" H x 6" W with a 2" base

An exceptional vintage Jemez Pueblo Wedding Vase by noted potter Juanita Fragua, beautifully hand-coiled and signed on the base. Crafted in the traditional Jemez tanware style, this elegant vessel features the classic double-spout wedding vase form joined by a sculptural bridge handle—a ceremonial design symbolizing the union of two lives becoming one.

The vase is finely decorated with bold black geometric motifs framing the neck and handle, while the rounded body is enlivened with delicately painted butterflies, stylized floral and botanical elements, and traditional Pueblo designs. The rich reddish-brown butterfly accents provide a striking contrast against the warm cream-colored clay, demonstrating Fragua's refined sense of balance and composition.

The vessel exhibits the smooth stone-polished surface and careful hand-finishing for which Juanita Fragua became widely respected. Her work helped preserve and promote traditional Jemez pottery for more than seven decades and is represented in museum and private collections throughout the United States. She began making pottery in childhood, became a full-time artist, exhibited regularly at the Santa Fe Indian Market, and was particularly celebrated for her wedding vases.

The base is fully signed:

"Juanita Fragua
Jemez Pueblo, NM (Walatowa)"

"Walatowa" is the traditional Towa name for Jemez Pueblo, meaning "This Is the Place."

Condition
Very good vintage condition with no visible cracks, repairs, or restoration observed from the photographs. Minor signs of age and gentle handling are consistent with a well-preserved vintage piece. (As always, examine photographs carefully as they form part of the description.)

Style & Period
Origin: Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico
Artist: Juanita Fragua (1935–2023)
Style: Traditional Pueblo / Native American Pottery
Technique: Hand-coiled, stone-polished, hand-painted
Period: Late 20th Century (circa 1990s based on the dated signature) See less