Da, Tony – Gunmetal & Sienna Jar with Seed Design (1970-1)

5.25"w x 5.5"h Call for Price

While the pottery of Tony Da has been well documented, it is still exciting to have a piece with such an exceptional provenance.  This gunmetal fired jar is an early piece of his pottery from 1970-71.  It is featured in the book, “The Art and Life of Tony Da” on page 57.  The jar is perfectly polished and fired to a gunmetal appearance. The rim has been “two-toned” sienna.  Note how on the black and sienna pieces there is a the sienna color (where the black has been burned back off) and then a “halo” of black and then the gunmetal. The jar is designed around the shoulder and has a seed and a prayer feather pattern.  This is a design that he did not often do in his pottery, which makes it distinctive.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “DA”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  Over the course of a career that spanned from 1967-82, Tony helped change the world of Pueblo pottery.   He was among the first to begin etching into the surface of the pottery (sgraffito), adding stones, hei-shi and then began creating all matte carved vessels.  His pottery today is considered to be among the most sought after by collectors and museum alike.  While he started out as a painter, he made his first pottery in 1967 and his first public showing was at Gallup Ceremonials of that year.