Denny Gutierrez was known for his faceted melon bowls.  However, he also created exceptional painted vessels. This tall jar has a high shoulder that slopes to the rim.  It is this top area that is painted with an avanyu.  There are rain cloud designs extending down from the shoulder.  It is not often that he made pieces with the avanyu design.  The jar is perfectly polished to a high shine and fired black.  It is from 1986.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Denny Gutierrez”.