This is an intricately carved water jar by Tina Diaz.  Over the years she has skillfully created her own unique style of carving pottery.  She is one of only a handful of Santa Clara potters who has mastered the technique of polishing her pottery tan.  The tan is the natural color of the clay and the most difficult to polish to achieve a high shine.  This jar is coil-built and deeply carved.  The shoulder of the jar has a carved avanyu (water serpent).   Below it are carved mountains, clouds, and a walking bear paw design. She has also carved cloud and rain designs into the negative space of the lower seciton of the jar. The neck and base are both polished in the traditional orangish-colored red.  The avanyu is a deeper red clay.  The designs below are polished tan.  The recessed areas that are carved away have her signature rounded shape and are slipped with the traditional cream-colored clay, which few potters use today because it is difficult to apply.  The jar was traditionally fired.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Tina Diaz”.