This is a complex designed water jar by Frederica Antonio. Each piece is coil-built and then finely painted using yucca. Her designs are a series of fine vertical and horizontal lines which are then filled in to create larger images in the squares.  Frederica called this her “optical illusion” jar.  It took me a second to see what she was talking about.  Take a look at the two opposite sections that are painted black  On has a square design with each square cut diagonally.  That creates a distinctive rippling effect to the design. The opposite side has a series of squares and rectangles that become interlocking clouds.  Or maybe it is the clouds that become the squares and rectangles!  Either way, the designs on the piece are most creative and visually complex.  They are separated by larger polychrome sections with five colors with a different style of swirl on each side. The sections with the colored clay are also painted black first as an outline, then the color is added, and then it is painted black again so that the lines are on top of the colors!  Imagine the patience and precision to paint those small lines over and over!  The base of the jar 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. V. Antonio”.