Grace Medicine Flower began her career making miniature pottery with incised designs.   This jar is from 2002-5 and  is one of her amazing polychrome pieces. The jar is carved through to create the various visual areas for design. Around the shoulder are carved through sections with carved fish as part of the design.  Below are sections which are carved into the clay and then slipped with micaceous clay or polished.  They are then etched with additional designs.  Grace has incorporated all the various techniques to make this jar, including carving, incising and etching.  She has also used polished, painted and micaceous surfaces for the designs.  All the various colors are from natural clay slips.  The technical difficulty in carving through the clay for the open areas is surprisingly difficult and amazing that it didn’t crack in drying or firing. Note as well that it is painted on the inside with additional fish! The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  While Grace is no longer making pottery, this is certainly a reflection of the creativity and originality of her work!