This is a striking red carved jar by Christopher Youngblood.  The jar has a rounded base and a flared rim.  The outside of the jar is carved with 16 polished ribs that extend up from the base and are rounded at the top.  They are each polished a deep red coloration.  The inside of the neck of the bowl is fully carved with a water serpent (avanyu), which encircles the piece.  The avanyu is a complex design that extends both downward and over the edge of the rim!  It is polished a deep red.  The surrounding area is matte, which is kept very smooth to avoid shadows created by and variance in the surface.  The matte and polished surfaces are in perfect balance to accentuate these classic designs.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Chris Youngblood”.

I’m pleased that I have been working with Chris since 2010 when I wrote the first article on him for Native People’s magazine.  It is exciting to see how his work has progressed over the years and the awards for his pottery, including the 2014 “Best of Pottery” at Santa Fe Indian Market.  He was featured in the book, Spoken Through Clay, and continues to be one of the leading young potters working today.