This is an iconic plate by Virginia Ebelacker.  The piece is carved with three bear paws, and it is fully polished.  It is one of maybe six or seven she made with the silver and turquoise insets.  Each one was a bit different.  This piece is fully polished and each of the three bear paws is polished.  They are carved in the center and then set with silver bezels and turquoise.  Of course, the insets were added after the firing.  It is fascinating how she taught herself to be a silversmith and then applied it to her pottery.

“She [Virginia Ebelacker] was among the first Pueblo potters int he early 1970’s to inset turquoise set in silver bezels into carved sections of her pottery to complement the design.”  Born of Fire, p. 126

In contrast to the polished frontThe back is matte and signed, “Virginia Ebelacker”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair. Not just iconic but a beautiful piece of art by an innovator in Native pottery!