Tina Diaz has skillfully created her own unique style of carving pottery.  She is one of only a handful of Santa Clara potters who has mastered the technique of polishing her pottery tan.  The tan is the natural color of the clay and the most difficult to polish to achieve a high shine.  This red and tan jar has a tall shape with a turned-out rim.  There is a swirling tan polished bird on one side.  It is surrounded by matte red clay.  As the jar is turned, there are seven red polished melon ribs that represent rain.  The final design is a red polished corn with circular shapes representing corn pollen. The jar was traditionally fired.  Interestingly, Tina’s pieces are always fully carved which gives them a very dramatic appearance.  It is always technically difficult to carve such sharp angles and delicate edges into the clay.  The background has the traditional cream-colored slip, which few potters use today because it is difficult to apply.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tina Diaz”.