Antonio, Frederica – Four Color Four Seasons Banded Jar

5"w x 7"h

$ 1,600.00

Frederica Antonio is renown for her intricately painted pottery. Each piece is coil built and then finely painted. Her designs are a series of fine vertical and horizontal lines which are then filled in to create larger images in the squares.  This water jar has a sloping shape which sets off the designs.  It is an amazingly intricate pattern which represents the four seasons.  From top to bottom they are Fall (leaves, polychrome), Summer (rain, black and white), Spring (flowers, polychrome), Winter (snow, checkerboard).  The top band has four different colors used to create the “leaves”. The optical illusion of the square inside squares and diamonds inside diamond shapes gives the appearance of movement. The middle band of the four colors for the flowers is delicately painted.  Her two black and white sections with the rain and snow are exceptionally tiny squares!  The coloration includes two additional colors of clay.  The entire jar is first painted black on white.  Frederica noted that she paints the red first, then the brown color and then had to go back over all the black lines again one more time!  The level of complexity and time involved in the painting of this piece is extraordinary!  The result, however, is stunning with a dynamic appearance and movement to the designs.  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 create a piece which is visually stunning!  The jar is signed on the bottom.