Stunning!  The shape and carving on this large storage jar by James Ebelacker are stunning!  James is a son of noted potter Virginia Ebelacker.  He is known for his large vessels and this jar is a complex piece of his pottery.  It is a classic storage jar shape with a tall shoulder and slightly turned out rim.  Coil building a tall vessel like this piece is always difficult. The result creates lots of space for carved design.  On this jar, there is a large hummingbird on one side and small circular medallions of a feather pattern.  The section with the cloud patterns has the raindrops rounded out which gives them a softer appearance than when they are carved at an angle.  The carved area are stone polished.  The matte areas are a strong visual contrast to the polished surfaces and focus the eye on the designs.  The jar is fired a striking red in coloration.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “James Ebelacker”  His work can be found in museums throughout the southwest and most recently in the book, “Spoken Through Clay”.