Sanchez, Russell – Red Bowl with Indented Melon Rib Neck and Bird Designs

4.5"w x 3.5"h

$ 4,800.00

This is a complicated bowl by Russell Sanchez. He continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched.  This bowl has rising sides and a neck which is indented so that it faces downward.  The side of the bowl is polished a very deep red.  It is etched with two birds, which are stylized in the classic San Ildefonso manner.  Each bird is different with their bodies and use of rain and cloud motifs.  The stylistic variation in the moths certainly reminds one of the painted of Florentiono Montoya.  He was known for his painting on pottery which varied imagery around the surface of the piece.  It is this historic San Ildefonso pottery and designs from the early 1900’s which are a source of inspiration for Russell.   The deep red color has also been revived by Russell and is the same red clay slip which was used at San Ildefonso in the 1920’s and 30’s.  There is a band at the top and bottom, which are a checkerboard design which is highlighted with a black clay slip.  They are lined above and below with shell and turquoise hei-shi beads.  The unusual and also technically difficult part of this bowl is how it turns downward into the bowl at the mouth.  The mouth has 32 carved melon ribs which are polished black.  They are lightly rounded which not only creates a striking visual but also textural feel!  The shape, creative design and highly polished surface are striking on this piece.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.

Click here to read: Russell Sanchez: Contemporizing the Pueblo Pottery Past