Rose Gonzales is often considered the first at San Ildefonso Pueblo to make carved pottery. However, over the course of her career, she created a variety of styles including plainware, painted, and carved pottery.  This large bowl is both a classic shape and design.  Rose carved her pottery with a “cameo” style where the design often seems to be carved right in relief on the surface of the vessel.  Here the water serpent (avanyu) is in that position. The bowl has a polished rim and the avanyu encircles the bowl.  It is highly polished and fired to a glassy black.  The bowl is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  It is signed, “Rose” on the bottom in the clay.