This is a creative round tile by Ida Sahmie.  The tile is fully polished and painted with natural clay slips and bee-weed (a plant) for the black.    The piece is inspired by a design seen on Navajo sandpaintings, entitled, “Talking God”.  There is a sunface in the center surrounded by eagle feathers.  The feathers are painted in four different colors for the four directions.  There is a corn plant in the center of the face.  The sun symbolizes life while the eagle feathers represent balance and justice.  It is very intricately painted and etched!  Ida is a daughter-in-law of Priscilla Nampeyo and Ida continues to make beautifully formed pottery with wonderfully complex designs.  She has won numerous awards for her pottery at events such as Santa Fe Indian Market.  She is the only Navajo potter creating this unique style of ethnographic pottery.  It is signed on the back in the clay, “Ida Sahmie”.