Beginning in the early 1970s, Joseph Lonewolf revolutionized the world of Santa Clara pottery by incorporating his sgraffito (lightly etching the surface of the clay) and incised (more deeply cut into the clay) designs.  This piece is from 1985.  It is a dynamic piece with a larger size and lots of colors. there are three large Mimbres-inspired turkeys.  Wild turkeys are an integral part of Pueblo culture and are found throughout the southwest.  Each turkey is different with different styles of wings and beaks.  They are highlighted with green (two different shades), blue, yellow, and white.  The remainder of the piece is highly polished red.  The piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Joseph Lonewolf” and the date of 1985.  It also has the 1985 yearly symbol of a star.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.

“I regard the Mimbres as my ancestors. Though I refine their designs, each design must have meaning for me. In my dreams I see how to use the design, how to make the pot happen. Then when I work the clay, everything flows. Some people wonder why I keep changing styles, colors, forms. But I can’t just sit there and make pots. Like any artist I must try different things, different techniques. I must meet the challenge with my hands. The patterns and the methods I see in my mind during my dreams.”
—Joseph Lonewolf, 1974 (Arizona Highways), Spoken Through Clay

Deciphered: The Yearly Symbols of Joseph Lonewolf