This is a complex lidded jar by Russell Sanchez.  The jar is coil-built and fully polished. There is an avanyu around the top of the shoulder, etched into the clay before firing.  There are inset Kingman turquoise for the eye and horn of the avanyu.  The remainder are small inset pieces of coral.  There are 42 stones in the lid, and 143 on the jar!  The side of the jar also has three rows of hematite hei-shi beads inset into the clay.  The lid has a square terrace shape.  So, why the hematite beads?  Russell has begun to use it in his recent pieces for several reasons. There is a traditional aspect in that women wear hematite bracelets when they do certain traditional dances at the Pueblo.  There is also hematite content in the clay slips used on the pottery.  The coral represents Summer clan and the turquoise, Winter Clan. The je and lid are both signed, “Russell”.

As Russell has said:

“I’m a traditionalist all the way through.  Innovation is part of our tradition. You use the same materials and tools that you have, and the same design elements, and the Clay Mother will come through you for what she wants you to do,” he explains. “Instead of doing the same cloud pattern or serpent pattern, you take that and make it your own. So, in fact, everything I’m doing is old, but new.”  Russell Sanchez, Southwest Art Magazine