Al Qoyawayma is known for his innovative pottery.  This jar is a shape that he calls his “wish pot.”  It is a distinctive form that was inspired by his aunt, Elizabeth White.  She made similar shapes and they would be designed with corn or other motifs.  The designs on Al’s pottery are all in repousse, which is to say that they are pushed out from the inside, not applied to the surface!  This jar is from 1998 and is part of the series he made inspired by Maori designs from New Zealand.  In  1991, he was a Fulbright Fellow with the Maori and South Pacific Arts/Te Waka Toi.  This jar has a Hano Mana katsina on the left and a Maori tribal symbol on the right.  What is amazing when you look at the jar from the side, the sharpness of the edge on the tribal design.  While the figurative work is matte, the remainder of the jar is stone polished to create a shine.  The jar is made from red Hopi clay.  It is signed on the bottom, “Qoyawayma”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.