This large jar by Al Qoyawayma is a amazing piece with sophisticated clay work and beautiful detail in the carved designs.  The jar has an elegant shape with a wide shoulder and fully carved and designed top surface. Al looks back to the past for inspiration in his designs on his polychrome pottery.  He is also thinking about the future and historic “what if”, in the sense that how would Hopi pottery have evolved if no Western contact.  His polychrome pieces are often a response to this thoughtful query.  This jar has Sikytaki inspired patterns and Al calls this his “Parrot Bowl”.  He says of the piece:

There are six abstract parrot images including two on the lid. If you really go abstract there are five more on the outer edge outlined by the brown iron-manganese oxide natural slip.  As it turns out Macaw parrots were “imported/traded” into the Southwest from Northern Guatemala. In an intermediate link parrots were bred at Paquimé (Casas Grandes) in northern Mexico to fill the supply link. Of course the birds and feathers were highly prized for ceremonial uses, not to mention there novelty in our arid area. So what was traded the other way? Ahhh…. turquoise from mines at Cerrillos, NM.”  Al Qoyawayma

The jar is carved at various levels with feathers, parrots, and corn designs. The designs are then slipped with clay and stone polished.  Note that there are over give different clay colors, including a  small green slipped bird is a perfect addition to the piece!   There are several colors on the top of this piece that are very difficult to achieve in a polished form (such as the tan and yellow colors!). This piece is a striking balance of form, sculpture, color and design!  The jar is signed on the bottom in the clay.