This is a classic deeply carved jar by Teresita Naranjo.  Teresita was a daughter of Christina Naranjo and was known for her deeply carved pottery.   Each piece was coil-built, carved, stone polished, and traditionally fired.  This jar has tall sides and it is carved with a rain, cloud, and mountain design that encircles the piece.  Note the depth of the carving on the jar and how she used the negative space of the neck to create designs!  It was then stone polished and fired a deep black coloration.  Teresita was one of the first Santa Clara potters to begin designing with such deep and flowing carving.  The jar signed on the bottom, “Teresita Naranjo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

“Some of my pieces of pottery are polished inside as well as outside. When we do wrong, we are like my pieces of pottery that I leave rough inside. Even if we polish ourselves outside, we stay rough inside. All my pottery is fired in an open fire, which determines the color. I really do enjoy making pottery, for I know God has given me this talent and the patience to do it.”  —Teresita Naranjo, Spoken Through Clay