This is a classic polychrome jar 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 jar has a round shoulder and a sloping neck.  The neck of the jar has an avanyu as the design.  Around the body of the piece, the jar is intricately painted with birds and flowers.  Note the bodies of the birds which have rain clouds in the center!  There are sun flowers and a corn stalk on each side.  Note the ears of corn are all four different colors, representing the four directions.  The jar has SEVEN different colors of clay used to paint the designs.  Note the overall complexity of the design and all the various clay colors!  The jar was traditionally fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Lois 2019”.

Brand

Gutierrez, Lois (b. 1948)

Lois Gutierrez

Lois Gutierrez is the sister of noted potters Gloria Garcia (Goldenrod), Minnie Vigil and Thelma Talachy. She has won numerous awards for her pottery, including "Best of Show" at the Santa Fe Indian Market in the early 1980's. Her work has been featured in numerous books including "Talking with the Clay" and "Beyond Traditions". She is one of the few potters at Santa Clara Pueblo who continues to create true polychrome pottery. Each of the different colors on this piece are derived from different clays! Few potters are willing to take the time to find the different clays to create the various colors.