Sanchez, Russell – Gunmetal Bowl with Bear Lid

6.5"w x 6"h (w/ lid)

$ 7,000.00

This is an exceptional gunmetal fired bowl by Russell Sanchez.  His recent work is a modern take on historic San Ildefonso pottery.  Let’s start out first with the firing, which is a true gunmetal.  It is fired longer and hotter than just a black piece, so that the surface has a very metallic appearance.  Russell is one of the only Pueblo potters working today who is able to achieve this with consistency!  The shape of the bowl is perfect for both the etched designs and the bear lid, with a graceful flow of form. The designs on the bowl are inspired by San Ildefonso designs from the 1920’s to 40’s.  The thin etched lines and the triangular shapes were all seen on pottery by Rosalie & Joe Aguilar, Susana Aguilar and Tonita Roybal.  They are perfectly etched into the clay before it was fired!  On the lid there is a checkerboard pattern and there are three strands of hemitite hei-shi beads, which also have a very metallic appearance.  The bowl is both historic and yet seems very modern and almost industrial.  As Russell has said he was told by older potters, “Take this and make it your own”, he has certainly followed that adage on this piece!  Note as well the shape of the bear, which has smaller feet and a more sculptural appearance as part of the lid. Finally, check out the inside of the bowl.  It was slipped with mica and so again, it ended up with a metallic gunmetal appearance. Wow!  A lot going on in one piece, that seems simple but there is a dynamic complexity inherent in the piece.  The bowl and lied are signed on the bottom in the clay.  Simply perfect!

Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past