This is large, fully painted canteen by Rachel Concho (b. 1936).  She learned to make pottery from her mother, Santana Cerno.   She is a sister of Joseph Cerno and the mother-in-law of Carolyn Lewis-Concho.  In 2000 she won Best in Show at Santa Fe Indian Market.  Her pottery is coil built and painted with bee-weed (black) and clay slips.  This piece is a classic canteen shape with a flat bottom and it sits at an angle.  The canteen is painted on the front with a large bird surrounded by tightly painted Acoma designs.  It is this period that is among the best of Rachel’s pottery, as it is so complex in design on such creative forms.  The sides and back are painted with rain clouds and prayer feathers. Note the use of the fine-lines throughout the piece!  The canteen has handles and a leather strap.  It is easy to understand the importance of her pottery and designs when a piece of this complexity comes back to the gallery!  It is signed on the bottom, “R. Concho”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.