Russell Sanchez continues to revive historic San Ildefonso designs with his innovative style of pottery.  This striking jar is highly polished and fired black. There is a single medallion on one side with a Mimbres style fox.  This is one of the few times we have seen him use this imagery.  The area around the medallion is deeply carved and matte. There are three inset bands of shell and turquoise hei-shi beads around the medallion.  The neck is polished green and there is a band of turquoise hei-shi beads.  As the jar is turned the glassy shine of the polished is revealed.  The design on the back are older San Ildefonso designs which Russell has revived.  The cloud and seed patterns flow across the back of the jar.  There are three inset pieces of Kingman turquoise around which the jar has been two-toned sienna in coloration.  The lid is intricately carved with a polished top but note the two matte carved bands below!  Technically it is an amazingly difficult lid to create.  The side of the lid has been two-toned sienna and another band of turquoise hei-shi beads have been inset.  The bottom of the jar has the classic indention and “foot” of traditional San Ildefonso pottery.  It’s exciting how Russell uses these historic elements to keep them alive on his contemporary pottery.  All the hei-shi beads are made by the Calabasas from Santo Domingo Pueblo.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, ‘Russell Sanchez”.