This is a complex painted flat top bowl by Frederica Antonio.  The shape has a narrow base and a flat top with the design extending from the rim to near the base.  The bowl is painted in four sections using three different colors of clay along with bee-weed (black) and white.  Frederica begins by painting horizontal lines, the vertical ones to create the checkerboard pattern.  This bowl has colorful designs on two sides representing the “dusk” and “dawn”.  Think of the rays of light first penetrating the sky in the morning and then all the colors as the sun sets through the couds.  She fills in the areas with the three different colors of clay slips and THEN paints over the edges again with the bee-weed so that the lines are more defined.  It is a much more time-consuming process, especially when you see all the small sections on each side.  However, the result is also more visually dynamic. Separating them are two black-on-white tightly painted sections. One has stars, for nighttime and the other lighting for the day.  Note how the designs start small at the rim and get larger at the shoulder.  The flat top of the bowl allows the design to curve and flow across the surface.  The base of the jar is concave, reminiscent of historic Acoma jars that were carried on the head.  This combination of thin walls, creative shapes, and tightly painted design creates a piece that is unique and quite stunning!  The jar is signed on the bottom, “F. V. Antonio”.