This is a classic water jar by Helen “Featherwoman” Naha.  The jar has a round shoulder and an elongated neck.  At the neck and the base, the jar has an Awatovi star pattern.  This is a classic design seen in Helen’s work.  Separating the stars are swirling birds.  Typically, she would use this design on her wedding vases. The jar is painted with bee-weed (black) and highlighted with red and orange clay slips.  The white is a kaolin clay which is first applied to the jar and then stone polished.  The piece was traditionally fired which created the blushes on the surface.  The wedding vase is signed on the bottom with a feather, which was Helen’s hallmark.  The vase is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.