Sanchez, Russell – Jar with Carved Bear, Lid and 120 Inset Stones
$ 8,800.00
This is a visually striking highly polished jar by Russell Sanchez. The jar has a round shoulder and a short neck. There is a deeply carved medallion with a bear carved in relief. The bear is highly polished, as is the remainder of the jar. The center of the bear has a single inset piece of turquoise. It is surrounded by tiny coral insets. Around the medallion is another row of coral insets, then two bands of hematite hei-shi beads, and then another band of coral inset. There are a total of 120 stones inset throughout the entire piece. The lid has inset coral and turquoise on the top of the lid. The jar was fired to a glassy, deep black, which creates a striking coloration with the deep red coral. Why coral? Russell says the red represents the Winter Clan at San Ildefonso, and the turquoise the summer clan. The jar has a striking balance of design, form, and color. The jar and the lid are both signed on the bottom in the clay, “Russell”. A wonderful traditional and yet very modern piece!
