This is a traditional jar by Harrison Begay.  The jar is coil-built, carved, stone-polished and traditionally fired.  Harrison said he was inspired to do this shape by a vase he had from his mother-in-law after she passed away.  The rim is polished, and there are 14 carved feathers encircling the jar.  They alternate between polished and matte surfaces.  There is a polished horizontal band separates the feathers from the carved designs below. Around the shoulder are a stylized hummingbird, spirals, a representation of sun or moon rays above a stair-stepped pattern, and other geometrics.  The jar was traditionally fired to a deep, glossy black coloration!  Stunning!  All the designs are either polished or matte.  The highly stone-polished surface creates a strong visual distinction between the matte and polished surface.  Note as well the style of carving, which has a beveled appearance to the angle of the cuts into the clay. This is a very distinctive style of carving for his pottery.    The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Harrison ’23”.