Than Tsidéh (Erik Fender) Santa Clara Blackware Jar with Petroglyph Band

This commanding hand-coiled blackware jar by Than Tsidéh (Erik Fender, b. 1970, San Ildefonso Pueblo) embodies both the soul of ancestral Pueblo pottery and the imagination of a modern artist. Its polished surface gleams with the deep, mirror-like luster distinctive of the Santa Clara firing tradition, while a broad, sculpted band encircles the shoulder—etched with petroglyph-style motifs that recall the ancient rock art of the Southwest: radiant sun forms, spirit figures, and rhythmic geometric lines.

Each mark on the vessel speaks of continuity—the artist’s hands guided by a lineage of masters: Maria Martinez, his great-grandmother; Carmelita Dunlap, his grandmother; and Martha Appleleaf, his mother. Fender, whose Tewa name Than Tsidéh means “Sun Bird,” carries forward their legacy with bold innovation—melding heritage, technique, and a distinctive visual language uniquely his own.

Signed “Than Tsidéh” beneath the base, this jar represents a convergence of tradition and individuality—an object that educates through its lineage, engages through its artistry, and enchants through its timeless beauty.

Dimensions: 9.5 x 8 inches (height x diameter).
(Campbell’s soup can shown for scale.)

Artist Background

Erik Fender (Than Tsidéh) was born in 1970 at San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico. Raised among generations of acclaimed potters, he began shaping clay as a child, mastering the meticulous hand-coiling, burnishing, and reduction-firing techniques that define Pueblo blackware. Fender is celebrated for his exploration of color, texture, and symbolism—expanding the traditional black-on-black style into green-on-black, two-tone, and polychrome innovations.

A multiple Santa Fe Indian Market and Heard Museum award winner, Fender’s works are represented by King Galleries, Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery, and featured in Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf. His pottery resides in private and institutional collections nationwide.

Condition

In very good condition, showing only light surface wear and faint scuffs consistent with age. No chips, cracks, or repairs. The polish remains radiant, the etched motifs crisp and tactile—an exceptional example of contemporary Pueblo craftsmanship.

To hold this jar is to trace an unbroken lineage—from earth to artist, from ancient petroglyph to modern expression. Fender’s Than Tsidéh signature is more than a mark; it’s a dialogue between generations. A work that educates in heritage, engages through mastery, and enchants with quiet power.