Thomas Natseway is a highly renowned master potter of

miniatures of the American Southwest. He was born April 19, 1953 in Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. In 1979, he began working under the supervision of potter Ethel Shields and her daughter Charmae Shields Natseway (now Thomas’ wife) from Acoma Pueblo.

Each of Natseway’s miniatures is fashioned from clay dug from a single sandstone deposit some distance from Acoma Pueblo. Most of his miniature pottery pieces range in size from ¼" to ¾", rarely exceeding 1". According to Natseway, half the work is in the formation of the pot and the other half is in the painting. All the paints used are natural colors derived from vegetables and minerals. To paint his miniature masterpieces, he uses his wife Charmae’s old brushes, which only have a few hairs left, and relies upon draftsman’s skills he acquired at school in Dallas. All of the miniature vessels are decorated without the use of glasses or magnification.

Natseway’s original pottery decorations were with Acoma fine-line designs, but he later expanded to include pottery motifs of the prehistoric Mimbres, Anasazi, Hohokum and Sikyatki (Hopi). His present miniatures also include contemporary Pueblo pottery designs.

Thomas Natseway has won many awards at prestigious competitions such as Eight Northern Pueblos, Santa Fe Indian Market and the Gallup Ceremonial. He swept the 1990 Indian Market in Santa Fe, receiving the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place awards.

the date, but also from its size, which is considerably larger than his contemporary pieces. Note that most of Natseway’s contemporary pieces do not exceed 1" in size.

Overall condition excellent. Bottom rim exhibits slight