WOW!  This is an exceptional jar by Grace Medicine Flower.  It is from 1986 and it is fully polished and designed.  The lid is one of her classic “stoppers” that fits perfectly into the jar.  Around the top of the shoulder is a feather pattern.  Around the body of the jar there are flowers and hummingbirds etched into the clay.  Did you know that Grace etched all her designs into the clay before firing!?  The large medallion is surrounded by a cloud pattern and has a feather design near the base.  As the jar is turned there is a sun design near the base, additional feather patterns, and butterflies.  It is fully designed and stunning!  Most significantly on this jar is her use of blue, green, and white clay slips.  These were slips given to Grace by her brother Joseph Lonewolf.  She only used them for a short time and then when she ran out she no longer had these colors on her pottery.  While it was only about a 2 year period, they created a dynamic appearance in her work for a few years.  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Grace Medicine Flower”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks restoration, or repair.  Definitely a piece of history in clay!

Grace said of making the pieces with a stopper lid:

I thought maybe a little stopper would make it look more elegant. Just something that comes to your mind. Once you start designing it something just comes to you. You don’t put her aside. She tells you while your mind is still fresh to keep going. Even at night I’d have this dream about forming this piece of pottery. I would have dreams about it, think about it and then say, “This is the next one I’m going to do.” I would picture it. Once in a while I would draw it on a piece of paper while it was fresh in my mind. Grace Medicine Flower, Spoken Through Clay