Youngblood, Mela – Gourd Bowl with 12 Indentions (1970s)

Mela Youngblood began making pottery in the late 1960s and quickly achieved a distinctive style for her work.  Each piece of her work is very highly polished, and when carved, the edges are distinctly rounded.  This bowl is a stylized version of the classic “gourd pot”. This style usually has indented areas on the surface of the vessel.  There are 12 oval intentions around the shoulder of the bowl.  They are perfectly placed to create the most reflection on the piece.  The entire surface of the bowl is fully polished.  The piece was made in the 1970s.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mela Youngblood”.

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Youngblood, Mela (1931-1990)

Mela Youngblood began making pottery in the late 1960s and quickly achieved a distinctive style for her work. As an artist, Mela took the process of making her pottery very seriously. She decided that each piece she made had to be perfect, a trait which she passed on to her children, Nathan Youngblood and Nancy Youngblood. Mela was a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and the mother of Nathan Youngblood and Nancy Youngblood. Of all of Margaret's daughters, she was the first to create a storage jar that survived the firing process. Mela made pottery for such a short time, so it is always exciting to see her distinctive pieces of influential pottery!