Frederica Antonio is renowned 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 that are then filled in to create larger images in the squares.  This jar is a classic olla shape with a high shoulder and a short neck.  Frederica has painted two black-and-white sections with cloud and wind patterns. Separating them are two spirals of lightning design. The lightning is painted with red and ochre-colored clay.  The black is painted with bee-weed.  The design extends from the rim to the base and note how tiny the squares are near the mouth of the jar.  The base of the jar is concave, reminiscent of historic Acoma jars that 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”.