This is an exceptional piece by Anita Fields.  It is a very large dress made from clay with designs on both sides.  The use of clothing and traditional dresses is a focus of her work. This piece has the classic “elk tooth” style on one side and a figure on the other.  “Anita was influenced by traditional Osage ribbon work, clothing, and blankets. She also studied the objects and ceremonial dress of other tribes. The personal and emotional elements in these textile designs led Anita to use them symbolically in clay, translating the personality of these vestments into her work. About one of her recent series, Native American Dresses, which are coil-and slab-built installations, Anita says: “The dresses convey my attitudes toward the strength of women and how native peoples show remarkable resourcefulness and adaptability toward their environment. The clothing Indian women created shows great pride, dignity, and hope in a culture facing insurmountable odds.”  It is an exceptional piece combining culture and clay together.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.