Joseph Cerno are known for his large coil built vessels.  While he usually works with his wife Barbara, this is one of the piece he made and painted on his own.  The jar is coil built and it is a classic water jar shape with the high shoulder and short neck. The design is a rainbow patterns which encircles the jar.  There are two bands, each in a different color of clay. Speaking of which, the jar is a “four color” which means that there are four different colors of clay used on the piece. There is a dark red, orange, brown and white (along with the black, which is not a clay, but vegetal).  Interestingly, the four color Acoma jars died out after the early 1900’s and were only revived in the 1970’s  Both Rick Dilingham and Richard Spivey claim part of the credit of reviving this unique coloration!  Back to this jar, as there are two birds below the rainbow band and two above.  They are each holding plants or berries.  They are surrounded by black painted rain and plant designs.  Note the very thin lines used for painting throughout the jar.  One would think the four-colors makes this unusual, but it is actually that the jar has been traditionally fired!  The photo inside the jar shows some of the discoloration from the outdoor firing and the jar itself has a stunning color. The white is more pearlescent and the colors have more depth from this type of firing as opposed to the electric kiln.  The jar has an indented bottom, which again harkens back to the Acoma pottery of the late 1800’s. The jar is signed on the bottom “Jospeh Cerno” and it is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is certainly a wonderful contemporary Acoma vessel with a dramatic use of revivalist designs and techniques.