Sanchez, Russell – Red Mountain Lion with Turquoise

5"long x 2.75"h

$ 2,400.00

Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched.  This is one of Russell’s few mountain lions.  Mountain lions always have their tail up on the back.  This figure is polished red and has three bands of hei-shi beads (turquoise and shell), across its back. One side has a heartline, which reflects the spirit and strength of the animal. The opposite side has a moutain lion track.  The design around the eyes and the paw design are slipped with a black clay.  On the same side as the track is an inset piece of turquoise.  The underside of the mountain lion is slipped with a black micaceous clay. The use of the black harkens back to the early “black-on-red” style of San Ildefonso pottery from the late 1800’s.  Notes as well the angular style of the legs, which gives the figure a very modern appearance!  The hei-shi beads are made by the Calabazas of Santo Domingo pueblo.  The Mountain Lion is signed on the bottom.