This is a large seedpot by Joseph Lonewolf. The piece is fully polished and fired red.  The piece was made in 1978, which was an interesting year in Joseph’s career.  It was the year he created a majority of his bronzes and some of his largest realistic animals pieces. This is a large seedpot and it was fully polished red. Then he etched the design into the clay. There are two realistic hummingbirds on one side, another realistic one on the other side.  Separating them is a realistic butterfly and then Mimbres bees on the other side.  They are surrounded by lightning, rain, and cloud designs.  The detail on the hummingbirds is amazing!  The piece is highlighted with green, white, and blue clay slips for additional color. Note as well how he combined various clays to create shades of blue and green!  The seedpot is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf” and his hallmark.   It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  

“Working with clay requires feeling and patience. Regardless of how much time I spend on a pot, if one hairline crack appears in the very last step, the firing, I know that spiritually I have done something wrong. I haven’t kept the faith. The pot must be destroyed, and all the work has been in vain.” Joseph Lonewolf, 1978, Austin Citizen

Deciphered: The Yearly Symbols of Joseph Lonewolf