Click on the image below to enlarge. In the early 60's, Helen Cordero of Cochiti Pueblo wanted to create a special gift for her grandfather. An accomplished potter, she had in mind a clay figure which would acknowledge the contribution he made to the whole family through his story telling on Winter evenings. She remembered how the children would gather to listen, often climbing up in his lap. Although the clay figure is a pottery form dating from long before Columbus reached the "new" world, all modern storyteller figures date back to Ms. Cordero's first special gift. Today, storyteller figures are created by potters from almost every Pueblo as well as Navajo and other Indian Nations. They captivate the imagination with their whimsical elements and coloring. The original storyteller was of a grandfather and children, but today storytellers may contain figures of almost any description: Mothers and Grandmothers; children of all shapes and sizes; Bears, dogs and turtles; and Mudhead & Koshare Clowns to name a few. Each artist works from the perspective of his or her cultural traditions and the characteristics of the native clays. A storyteller from Taos, for example might be of micaceous clay, while one from the Teller family of Isleta Pueblo would be of pastel-colored, light slipped decorations. Potters from Santa Clara Pueblo often make small animal toys from blackened, polished clay. Whatever form they take, authentic storyteller figures are a reminder of the importance of the family and the oral traditions which have passed down a rich cultural heritage.

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