Alton Komalestewa learned to make pottery from his mother-in-law, Helen Shupla.  She was famous for her traditional melon bowls and over the years Alton has taken and refined this form with thinner walls and a highly polished surface.  This melon jar is fired brown, which is unusual for his pottery.  It is made with undulating ribs, which are pushed out from the inside.  It is technically difficult to stretch the clay and create even ribs.  This jar has 11 ribs and a very highly polished sturface.  It has been traditionally fired and it is signed on the bottom by Alton and he also uses a katsina face as part of the hallmark of his name.