This is a very creative box by Russell Sanchez.  The shape is inspired by the historic San Ildefonso boxes from the 1920’s.  Here, Russell has furthered the connection to the historic pieces with his focus on the polychrome coloration.  The red is a very deep coloration and the same deep red as used in the 1920’s. The black areas are a black micaceous clay which he has polished.  When the red or black areas are etched away, they leave exposed clay, which is tan in coloration. That creates the polychrome coloration, which are the same three tonalities used in early San Ildefonso pottery.

The box itself is inspired by the painting of Florentino Montoya form the early 1900’s.  This box has two sides of red and two sides of black. The lid is half black and half red.  The lid can also be set for the black to match up, or for it to be a contrast.  Florentino was famous for his alternating and switching of colors on his painted designs.  Here the lid has very delicately etched fine-line patterns which represent the mountain lions when they are drawn as petroglyphs.  The sides of the box are etched in two sections with cloud and rain designs. The medallions are unique in design.  Russell has etched and textured the mountain lions in each of the medallions. They are much in the style of the animal imagery seen on San Ildefonso pottery before 1900.  The mountain lion design is an equally significant one on this piece as Russell says here that the mountain lions represent the twin war gods who protect the village.  Each of the medallions is surrounded by a band of hei-shi beads.  Again, the medallions are the opposite color of the surrounding clay.  The box was traditionally fired and the result is a striking coloration, especially for the red. The box is signed on the bottom.