Mary Juan was a cousin of noted potter Ida Redbird. She was one of the original members of the 1938 Maricopa Pottery Cooperative. She was part of the early Revival Period artists from 1937-41. She continued to create pottery until the 1960s. Mary Juan was known for the finely polished deep red slip, graceful shapes, and finely painted designs.  This is a very unusual bowl.  It is a fully polished tan with a red interior.  The bowl has snakes on the exterior along with whirling log and mountain designs.  Considering the use of the whirling log design, the bowl is probably from before the early 1940s.  It is very tightly painted.  This piece is traditionally handcrafted from native clay with the paddle and anvil method, iron oxide red slip is decorated with black mesquite sap paint and pit fired.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mary Juan”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.