Paul Gutierrez was a grandson of noted potters Lela and Van Gutierrez. He was the son of Luther Gutierrez. He married Dorothy Gutierrez in 1965. Paul began making pottery at age 12. He and Dorothy worked together creating black and red fired animals and storytellers.  Paul passed away in 2017, but their animals and figures are classics of Santa Clara pottery.  This is one of their few clay vessels.  It is a jar with carved lightning designs.  While they were famous for their animals they did not often make vessels and even fewer which were carved and not just fully polished.  The result, however, it a nicely carved and polished piece.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Dorothy + Paul”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.