This is a complex bear-lidded jar by Russell Sanchez.  The jar is a classic shape with a sharp shoulder and sloping side.  It is fully polished red.  The jar has feathers etched into the clay.  Next to the tip of each feather is an inset piece of turquoise.  Around the neck are additional inset turquoise.  Near the base, the jar is etched with a rain design and additional inset turquoise.  The jar also has four rows of hematite hei-shi beads.  So, why hematite?  Russell has begun to use it in his recent pieces for several reasons. There is a traditional aspect in that women wear hematite bracelets when they do certain traditional dances at the Pueblo.  There is also hematite content in the clay slips used on the pottery.  The jar has an AMAZING bear lid!  The bear has inset stones for the heartline, eyes, and also on the back.  The areas on the back are also slipped with black clay. The top of the lid has two larger inset stones, along with inset hematite stones.  Overall there are 179 stones on this jar! WOW!  Of course, the lid is a perfect fit for the piece.     The turquoise represents the Winter Clan. The jarand lid are both traditionally fired and are signed, “Russell”.

As Russell has said:

“I’m a traditionalist all the way through.  Innovation is part of our tradition. You use the same materials and tools that you have, and the same design elements, and the Clay Mother will come through you for what she wants you to do,” he explains. “Instead of doing the same cloud pattern or serpent pattern, you take that and make it your own. So, in fact, everything I’m doing is old, but new.”  Russell Sanchez, Southwest Art Magazine