Artist Spotlight: Robert Kasero
So many of the artists we work and come into contact with every day are exceptionally talented creators and painters. Fewer, however, are able to create the wonderfully intricate work that this month’s Artist Spotlight, Laguna potter Robert Kasero, does.... Read more
Horse Hair Pottery
Legend holds that horsehair pottery was discovered by a pueblo potter whose long hair blew against a piece of pottery she was removing from a hot kiln, stuck, and carbonized. The result was so interesting that she duplicated it with hair from a horse’s... Read moreThe Jemez Pueblo Harvest Celebration
The Jemez Pueblo feast day celebrating Saint Persingula, the patron saint of the Pueblo, is held every year on August 2nd. While some rituals in most feast day celebrations are very private and secret, Palms’ owner, Guy Berger, has been invited to attend this... Read more
The Mata Ortiz, Acoma Pueblo Connection: Similarities in Design
Written by Palms Trading owner Guy Berger, today’s blog features a fascinating exercise in exploration and comparison of ancient and modern pottery styles and designs between Mata Ortiz and Acoma Pueblo. In his own words: “Paquime’ was an old village in... Read more
Kokopelli: Fertility Deity and God of Harvest
In many places in the world, primitive people used to carve images on rocks, often called Petroglyphs. The Kokopelli, a mystical flute player, is the most well known petroglyph in the American southwest. Petroglyph carvings of the Kokopelli figure date... Read more
Artist Spotlight: Anita “Pauline” Romero
While we here at Palms treasure each relationship we have with the artists we work with daily, there are some artists, having worked with them over decades, and whom we see often, we feel special bonds with. Our August Artist Spotlight potter, Anita... Read more
Pueblo Pottery: Real, Faux, or Damaged? Six Tips from Expert Guy Berger
It isn’t always easy to tell if Pueblo pottery is real, damaged or a knockoff. Faux and poorly made Pueblo pots are sometimes sold to unsuspecting consumers in stores, and other venues. With that in mind, how does a collector know if the pottery has a crack... Read moreMaria Martinez: A Chronological Summary of her Various Time-Period Signatures
Famous San Ildefonso potter and the woman responsible for the renaissance of Pueblo pottery, Maria Martinez, used seven different signatures at various points in her career. Many of our customers have expressed interest in knowing how the signatures relate to the time... Read more
Artist Spotlight: Eugene Mitchell
July’s Artist Spotlight focuses on a Navajo silversmith who has been creating since 1952 and doing business with Palms since 2002. It is our great pleasure to introduce you to sandcast extraordinaire, Eugene Mitchell. Navajo silversmith Eugene... Read more
The Value of Turquoise: Determining Quality Through Four Factors
At Palms, we feel it is our privilege and our obligation to stay informed and educated regarding the various facets of our business and the products we sell. We also know it is important to pass this knowledge on to you, our valued customers. As turquoise has gained... Read more