This is an elegant shaped water jar by Mary Ester Archuleta.  The jar has a very low shoulder and an elongated neck which has just a slight flare at the rim.  Around the body of the jar are carved step style cloud designs.  They are deeply carved into the clay.  The jar is very highly polished a deep red which is striking on a piece of this shape.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Mary E. Archuleta.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Mary is the second youngest daughter of Margaret Tafoya.  She married into San Juan Pueblo in the late 1960’s and created most of her pieces in the San Juan inspired style.  Today they remain a distinctive part of the histories of Santa Clara, San Juan and the Tafoya family.