Andrews Pueblo Pottery

Thursday

Nov122009

Located in Albuquerque New Mexico's historic Old Town, Andrews Pueblo Pottery is a family owned business that has offered authentic Native American pottery since 1974. Often purchased directly from the artists, our inventory includes pottery from all the active New Mexico Pueblos, Hopi and Navajo Reservations, Native American basketry, fetish carvings, katsina dolls, beadwork and jewelry, as well paintings and sculpture by Sheldon Harvey, winner Best of Show at Santa Fe Indian Market in 2008. We also offer historic and hard-to-find items from important collections of Native American art. Visit us in Albuquerque’s Old Town 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day; call us toll-free at 1-877-606-0543; or email info@andrewspp.com.

The late Helen Andrews was a mother and full-time guidance counselor in 1974 when she decided to open a Native American pottery gallery in Old Town. She didn’t give up those first two pursuits; just added a third. After a full day at school, Helen would drive to the Pueblos and make her rounds. When she came home, the family would oooh and aaah over her purchases, then get ready for the next day. The family interest in Pueblo pottery began years earlier, and is epitomized one tiny pot by Blue Corn of San Ildefonso. Helen and her children, Bob, Susan and Joey, took a trip to the Grand Canyon in 1959. Ten-year-old Bob spent almost all his allowance to buy that pot. It remains in his collection today. Helen developed deep friendships among the potters she met: Maria Martinez; Margaret Tafoya; Fannie and Priscilla Nampeyo; Joseph Lonewolf; Lucy Lewis; Dora and Tse Pe.

Today, those relationships remain intact. Old friends, and children and grandchildren of old friends, bring their creations into the gallery for Bob to purchase. And new artists do the same. A few years ago, an unknown artist named Sheldon Harvey walked in with two wooden sculptures. Bob took him on, as he has many unknown artists in the past. Sheldon went on to win Best in Sculpture, Best in Painting and Best in Show at Santa Fe’s 2008 Indian Market.