This is an exceptional large carved cloud jar by Autumn Borts-Medlock.  This style of jar has become one of her iconic forms with billowing carved clouds.  This large jar has two parrots that are carved into the clay.  They have red and tan polished wings, beaks, and feathers.  The additional feathers are highlighted with green, red, and micaceous clays.  Autumn added red, green, blue, yellow and blue clays on the wings to create “Rainbows”.  Near the base are six carved flowers with polished and matte red flowers.  The center of each flower is stippled in the clay and highlighted with white clay.  As the jar is turned, there are large, carved, billowing clouds that extend from the top to the bottom. They are matte and stippled in clay and carved in various layers!  It is amazing the depth and variation in the carving that she can accomplish on pieces that become as much sculpture as a vessel.  The jar is simply exquisite in design and form. It is an exceptional amount of work in the various levels of carving combined with polished and stippled surfaces.  It is very complex in imagery.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Autumn Borts-Medlock, 2024”.

So, why so many parrots on Pueblo and Hopi pottery?   In the pre-contact era, there was a small parrot that was indigenous to the southwest area.  As well, parrot feathers were traded with Central American tribes and were highly valued. Today there are Parrot Clans at Hopi and parrot feathers are used throughout the Pueblo world in various ceremonies and dances.  So, it is not unexpected to see parrots featured on pottery from the various pueblos and Hopi.  They are certainly part of the cultural and historic background of these amazing potters!