This is a large wide shoulder jar by Lorraine Williams.  The jar has a high, sharp shoulder and sloping sides.  Above the shoulder, there are four Yei figures separated by tightly incised cloud and rain designs.  The Yei figures are holding “thunder” and “lightning” in their hands.  The rain cloud designs extend just over the shoulder of the jar.  The designs are incised into the clay and highlighted with two different colors of red and black.  The remainder is plain.  The jar has been traditionally fired, which creates variations in color. Interestingly, these large pieces are fired upside down!  After the firing, it is covered in pinon pitch, which is typical of all traditional Navajo pottery harkening back to when it was utilitarian.  Lorraine has won numerous awards for her pottery and has been featured in books such as “A Legacy of Generations”.  It is signed on the bottom, “LW, Lorraine Williams”. 

“The potteries talk to you. When I’m feeling down, they say, ‘go rest, leave me alone.”  When it’s a good day they say, ‘start working'”.  Lorraine Williams, Navajo Folk Art