This is a traditional canteen by Virgil Ortiz.  The piece is coil built and painted with native clay slips and wild spinach (a plant) for the black.  The piece has a flower motif on the front medallion.  It is surrounded by wild spinach leaves and a checkerboard pattern.  The edge of the medallion has cloud designs.  The neck has additional cloud patterns as does the back of the canteen.  This canteen is from1996 and painted with tight, small imagery, which is indicative of his pottery at that time.  He created some amazing pieces that incorporated his interpretation of classic Cochiti imagery.  The piece was traditionally fired.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the back “Virgil Ortiz” and his hallmark.  I had a museum mount made for the piece so that it would sit upright and show off the design.