This one-of-a-kind Storyteller Doll depicts a grandmother with three grandchildren on her lap – respectively holding a baby, a basket, and a shield – while two others peer over her head. Creating a fully sculpted work of art, Jemez Pueblo potter Judy Toya coils and shapes her figures from locally gathered clay, fires them over an open kiln, then hand-paints them with natural pigments. Handcrafted in New Mexico.

Size: 7” x 4”

About the Artist:

Judy Toya is the daughter of renowned storyteller artist, Mary E. Toya.  Judy also makes traditional storytellers, as well as nativities and koshares.  

Within the Jemez Pueblo there are many exceptional potters.  The work is generally characterized by the buff and red clays used, and the range of styles and subjects.   Storytellers are a favorite. Before the arrival of the Spanish, Jemez was known for its traditional black-on-white ware, but production of this type of pottery died out in the early 18th century.  There was a revival of Jemez pottery-making in the early 20th century inspired and influenced by Zia pottery designs, but it was not until the 1960s and 70s that a significant number of Jemez potters began producing high-quality work using traditional methods.