This is a classic wide shoulder water jar by Jason Ebelacker.  The jar is an elegant shape with the very wide shoulder and turned out rim. This shape of water jar is one which is often seen in the work of his great-grandmother Margaret Tafoya.  Here Jason has created a jar with a double shoulder or “rainbow rim”.  The key to making a jar of this shape is to accentuate the round shoulder and the curves of the neck.  He has impressed a bear paw as part of the design.   The paws represent the story of the bear who saved the village from a flood and they are represented on vessels which hold water.  The jar is stone polished to a high shine and then traditionally fired. The jar has a high polish and a very deep black coloration.  Jason is a son of noted potter Richard Ebelacker and grandson of Virginia Ebelacker.  He has won numerous awards for his pottery and continues to be one of the important younger potters to watch.  Pottery at this level of creativity and quality are certainly a reflection of both his talent and the future!