This is a creative piece by Virginia Ebelacker.  She was the first-born child of Margaret Tafoya and known for her large scale pottery.  This is one of her bird figures that is made from native clay and fully polished.  The bird is painted with designs on the wing and the tail.  Her bird figures are charming and this is one of the few I have seen, although I’m sure she made many.  However, I doubt that many survive over time as they are the type of piece that is easy to break or people don’t pay attention to as opposed to one of her larger vessels.  The bird is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair. It is signed in the clay on the bottom, “Virginia Ebelacker”.  Virginia’s sons Richard and James were both known for their distinctive large pottery and today her grandson, Jason, is also creating exceptional pottery.