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Miniatures
Most people think that miniature pottery is something new in the world of Native American pottery. In reality, archaeologists have found miniature pottery in the remains of ancient ruins in Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, across eastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and south to the Paquimé and Casas Grandes region in northern Mexico. Archaeologists working in the eastern US have found miniature pottery spread across Early Woodland Culture sites, too, dated up to 1700 years ago.
We have no idea as to why the ancients created miniature pottery but there's lots of speculation. Perhaps it was made as toys for children. Perhaps it was made by children learning to make pottery, and as their expertise grew, the size of their pieces grew, too. Perhaps it was made and placed in a firing pit as a good luck charm, hoping that other pots being fired in the pit would survive the firing process and not crack or break. Perhaps it was made for some ceremonial purpose we have no possibility of knowing. We do know that in North America, almost every pottery-making group of ancients made miniature pottery. They decorated it, too, just like the full size pottery the women of the time were making.
As the rebirth of traditionally made Native American pottery has unfolded over the last century, research into the ancient forms, styles and designs has also brought the miniature back into focus. There are more than a few potters these days making tiny gems again, similar to and, at the same time, more refined than the products of the potters of prehistory. And while some are still being made by children learning as they grow up, many more are being made by established adult potters. Some have made their entire careers around the making of miniatures while others sometimes make a few miniatures to complement the full range of forms and styles of full size pieces they make.
Margaret Tafoya Family Tree
Disclaimer: This "family tree" is a best effort on our part to determine who the potters are in this family and arrange them in a generational order. The general information available is questionable so we have tried to show each of these diagrams to living members of each family to get their input and approval, too. This diagram is subject to change should we get better info.
Note: Sarafina (Gutierrez) Tafoya was the sister of Pasqualita Tani Gutierrez.
- Sarafina Tafoya (1863-1949) & Geronimo Tafoya
- Margaret Tafoya (1904-2001) & Alcario Tafoya (d. 1995)
- Mary Ester Archuleta (1942-2010)
- Barry Archuleta
- Bryon Archuleta
- Sheila Archuleta
- Jennie Trammel (1929-2010)
- Karen Trammel Beloris
- Virginia Ebelacker (1925-2001)
- James Ebelacker (1960-) & Cynthia Ebelacker
- Jamelyn Ebelacker
- Sarena Ebelacker
- Richard Ebelacker (1946-2010) & Yvonne Ortiz
- Jason Ebelacker
- Jerome Ebelacker & Dyan Esquibel
- Andrew Ebelacker
- Nickolas Ebelacker
- James Ebelacker (1960-) & Cynthia Ebelacker
- Lee Tafoya (1926-1996) & Betty Tafoya (Anglo)
- Linda Tafoya (Oyenque)(Sanchez) (1962-)
- Antonio Jose Oyenque
- Jeremy Rio Oyenque
- Maria Theresa Oyenque
- Melvin Tafoya
- Phyllis Bustos Tafoya
- Linda Tafoya (Oyenque)(Sanchez) (1962-)
- Mela Youngblood (1931-1990) & Walt Youngblood
- Nancy Youngblood (1955-)
- Christopher Cutler
- Joseph Lugo
- Sergio Lugo
- Nathan Youngblood (1954-)
- Nancy Youngblood (1955-)
- Toni Roller (1935-)
- Brandon Roller
- Cliff Roller (1961-)
- Deborah Morning Star Roller
- Jeff Roller (1963-)
- Jordan Roller
- Ryan Roller
- Susan Roller Whittington (1955-)
- Charles Lewis
- Tim Roller (1959-) & Clarissa Tafoya
- William Roller
- LuAnn Tafoya (1938-) & Sostence Tapia
- Michele Tapia Browning (1960-)
- Ashley Browning
- Mindy Browning
- Daryl Duane Whitegeese (1964-) & Rosemary Hardy
- Samantha Whitegeese
- Tina Whitegeese
- Michele Tapia Browning (1960-)
- Shirley Cactus Blossom Tafoya (1947-)
- Meldon Tafoya
- Andrea Tafoya
- Crystal Tafoya
- Melissa Tafoya
- Mary Ester Archuleta (1942-2010)
- Christina Naranjo (1891-1980) & Jose Victor Naranjo (1895-1942)
- Mary Cain (1916-2010)
- Billy Cain (1950-2005)
- Joy Cain (1947-)
- Linda Cain (1949-)
- Autumn Borts-Medlock (1967-)
- Tammy Garcia (1969-)
- Douglas Tafoya
- Marjorie Tafoya Tanin
- Teresita Naranjo (1919-1999)
- Stella Chavarria (1939-)
- Denise Chavarria (1959-)
- Joey Chavarria (1964-1987)
- Sunday Chavarria (1963-)
- Stella Chavarria (1939-)
- Cecilia Naranjo
- Sharon Naranjo Garcia (1951-)
- Judy Tafoya (1962-) & Lincoln Tafoya (1954-)
- Mida Tafoya (1931-)
- Sherry Tafoya (1956-)
- Phyllis Tafoya (1955-)
- Robert Tafoya
- Ethel Vigil
- Kimberly Garcia
- Mary Cain (1916-2010)
- Camilio Tafoya (1902-1995) & Agapita Silva (1904-1959)
- Joe Tafoya & Lucy Year Flower (1935-2012)
- Kelli Little Kachina (1967-2014)
- Myra Little Snow (1962-)
- Forrest Red Cloud Tafoya
- Shawn Tafoya (1968-)
- Joseph Lonewolf (1932-2014) & Katheryn Lonewolf
- Greg Lonewolf (1952-)
- Rosemary Apple Blossom Lonewolf (1954-) & Paul Speckled Rock (1952-2017)
- Adam Speckled Rock
- Susan Romero
- Grace Medicine Flower (1938-)
- Joe Tafoya & Lucy Year Flower (1935-2012)
- Dolorita Padilla (1897-1960) & Alberto Padilla (1898-)
- Tomacita Tafoya Naranjo (1884-1918) & Agapita Naranjo
- Nicolasa Naranjo (c.1910-) & Jose G. Tafoya
- Howard Naranjo & Linda Naranjo
- Nicolasa Naranjo (c.1910-) & Jose G. Tafoya
Some of the above info is drawn from Pueblo Indian Pottery, 750 Artist Biographies, by Gregory Schaaf, © 2000, Center for Indigenous Arts & Studies
Other info is derived from personal contacts with family members and through interminable searches of the Internet.