Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil-built, stone polished, and etched.  This is one of his few turtles. The head of the turtle is hollow and the back (shell) is fully polished red and green.  Separating the red and green areas are two rows of hei-shi beads. There is a single inset piece of turquoise on the top of the turtle.  The red area of the turtle is etched with an avanyu and the background area is slipped black.  This creates a modernist version of the historic “black-on-red” style of San Ildefonso pottery. The turtle also has inset turquoise for the eyes.  The piece was traditionally fired and it is signed on the bottom in the clay.