This is a striking jar by Debbie Clashin.  She is a cousin of noted potter Mark Tahbo and a descendant of Grace Chapella.  Debbie has quickly become well known for her large-sized traditional Hopi-Tewa pottery. The water jar has a wide shoulder and a neck with a slightly turned out rim. The entire piece is fully polished and then painted with bee-weed (black) and red clay slip.  The jar has intricately designed bird tails that extend from the neck to below the shoulder.  Note the use of the checkerboard pattern!  Extending off the tails are the bird “wings” which are designed like the classic migration pattern bird wing.  It is a very creative use of traditional design.  It works perfectly on the shape of the jar and with the deep red clay coloration. The jar is complex in design but Debbie still leaves a lot of open space for her designs so that the Hopi clay shows through!  The jar was traditionally fired so there are blushes on the surface.   It is signed on the bottom with her name and a pipe for his “Tobacco Clan”.