Dolores Curran has created her own distinctive “poly-tonal” incised blackware.  This is a style that she originated by modifying the classic “black” pottery with polishing and rubbing techniques to create various shades of black and grey.  This jar has a round shoulder and a straight neck.  The rim and base of the jar are fully polished.  The neck has incised lightning and plant designs.  Around the shoulder is an avanyu. Around the body of the jar are incised cloud designs.  Separating them are polished prayer feathers extending up from the base.  Note the various tonalities in this jar.  Dolores said she used various clay colors before firing to create the variations in the black and gray.  The various colorations of gray are from a very time-involved process as the surface areas are either polished or slipped with mica or rubbed until they are almost a gunmetal coloration.  The designs are created by either incising or etching into the surface and this is combined with painted designs.  It is signed, “Dolores Curran”.

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