Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched.  This bear is one of his classic shapes.  This bear has a round body and an elongated neck.   The bear is highly polished to a very deep red coloration from the slip.  Russell has brought back the deep red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s.  It is an extraordinary coloration!  This bear is fully polished but has black mica areas on the legs.  The body has etched designs of prayer feathers extending down the legs.  At the top of each prayer feather is a single piece of Morenci turquoise.  The tear drop shaped design on the front and back is a pattern which was stylized from Acoma pottery by Tonita Roybal in the 1920’s.  At the time, she called it a, “sun” pattern.  Across the back are three bands of black mica clay and three bands of shell and turquoise hei-shi beads.  The bears are symbolic of good luck and in many of the pueblos are carved from stone.  The bear is hollow as the piece is coil built.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.  Stunning!

Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past