This is a classic 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.  There is a deeply carved avanyu (water serpent) encircling the entire jar.  Note the depth of the carving and the use of the negative space extending down from the rim.  Teresita was one of the first Santa Clara potters to begin designing with such deep and flowing carving.  The bowl is 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