Frederica Antonio is renowned for her intricately painted pottery. Each piece is coil built and then finely painted. Her designs are a series of fine vertical and horizontal lines which are then filled in to create larger images in the squares.  This bowl has a classic round shape.  It is painted with her “four corn’ design.  Each of the four sections of the bowl has a corn design (the square with a dot in the center).  They are each a different color, representing the different colors of corn and the four directions (north, south, east, and west).  The coloration is dynamic and striking as the piece is turned.  It is not often she uses so much of the dark brown and yellow clay slips.  The lines are first painted, then all the colors, and then the lines are painted over again.  The base of the bowl is concave, reminiscent of historic Acoma jars which were carried on the head.  This combination of thin walls, classic shape, and tightly painted design creates a piece that is visually stunning!  The jar is signed on the bottom, “F. A. Antonio”.