This is a tall jar by Elizabeth Medina.  She is known for her traditional style of Zia pottery.  Each piece is coil built, painted with native clays, and native fired.  The jar has  Zia birds on the sides, underneath a red polished rainbow.  Separating them are large Zia sun designs.  It is not often that we see Elizabeth use the Zia sun imagery on her pottery.  This is a very important design to Zia culture.  The symbol has a sacred meaning, represented by the four rays, each of which has four bands.  Four is a sacred number that symbolizes the Circle of Life: the four directions, the four times of day, the four stages of life, and the four seasons. The center of the sun is has a Zia roadrunner.  The rim of the jar is carved with kiva steps and there are flower and cloud designs.  It is a wonderfully complex and intricately painted jar!  The jar signed on the side “Elizabeth Medina, Zia”.