This is a classic polychrome bowl by Lois Gutierrez.  She is one of the few potters who continues to create polychrome pottery at Santa Clara.  Polychrome, or more than three different colors of clay slips, are all painted onto the surface of the vessel before it is fired. This piece has a matte background and is painted with six different colors of clay!  There is a hummingbird on one side and two butterflies on the opposite side. There are two blue-colored flowers and one larger brown and red flower next to the hummingbird.  It is a complex and striking design.  Did you know that Lois collects each of the different clays from around Santa Clara Pueblo in order to create these colorations?   The piece was traditionally fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Lois Derek”,  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.