Seferina Ortiz was the matriarch of a family of renowned potters, including Virgil Ortiz, Janice Ortiz, Inez Ortiz, and Lisa Holt. This is one of her classic storyteller figures.  The mother is holding four children.  One has a ball, one is hiding, one is wearing a dress.  There is strong detail in the painting on the piece. The figure is slipped with white clay and then painted with a red clay slip and wild spinach (black).  The piece is signed on the bottom, “Seferina Ortiz”.  It was traditionally fired and in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Definitely a classic figure by this historically important potter!