This is a large jar by Les Namingha focuses on traditional Hopi-Tewa motifs.  The shoulder of the jar is fully painted with geometric “shard” patterns. They vary from checkerboard to hatchwork rain patterns and bird wings.  They are painted with bee-weed (black) and highlighted with a red clay slip.  Les has added his own variations with the small pointilism dots in red and black across the surface.  The final design has a very modernist appearance and yet the Hopi clay and firing maintain that traditional feel.  The top 3/4 of the jar (above the line) is polished, while the bottom is matte.  This creates a great textural feel to the piece when it is held.  It is also reminiscent of the work of Les’s aunt, Dextra Quotskuyva.  She often made pieces which were half polished and half matte.  The bottom has a fully pointilism design.  The traditional firing has created strong blushes across the surface of the jar.  The complexity of this piece is perfect for this shape, which gives lots of “canvas space” for the design.   Les is a descendant of Nampeyo and learned to make pottery from his aunt Dextra Quotskuyva.  It is signed on the bottom.