While Blue Corn is often best known for her polychrome pottery, she began her career making black pottery. This is one of her earlier pieces from the 1960’s and it is deeply carved with an avanyu.  The style of the carving is much like that seen in other early San Ildefonso potters, with a “cameo style”.  The avanyu encircles the shoulder of the bowl.  The piece is highly polished and fired a deep black.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay “Blue Corn, San Ildefonso”.  The bowl is in good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.