Ortiz, Virgil – Badger and Butterfly Jar (2019), (VO p.27)

7.5"w x 9.5"h

$ 6,200.00

This is a fascinating jar by Virgil Ortiz.  The jar is coil built and painted with wild spinach (a plant) for the black.  The imagery is created using strong, bold lines.  On one side there is a butterfly and the other side is a badger.  The butterfly has triangular lines on the edges of the wings to create a sense of motion.  The badger, on the opposite side is symbolic of Virgil’s name in Keres, “Qu-Pii”, or, “Badger”.  Both the butterfly and badger are painted at an angle which makes them less linear on the surface and gives the jar more motion. Can you see the “spirit line” in the design? It is at the top of the first tile on the left! The spirit line is a break in the painting and used on traditional Cochiti pottery.  Virgil has also incorporated his signature “x”, which is the turkey track into the designs.  The use of traditional and contemporary imagery has become a standard for Virgil’s pottery as he pushes the boundaries of contemporary Native clay.  The jar is signed on the bottom, “Virgil Ortiz” with his cipher.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It will be featured on page 27 of his new book “Virgil Ortiz Revolution”.