Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched.  This jar is in the shape of a small storage jar with a wide shoulder and a small neck. The jar is highly polished to a deep red.  The design on two sides are a stylized San Ildefonso moth.  Each of the moths has a different design for the body and wings.  Connecting the two moths are a classic seed design.  Russell has used historic San Ildefonso pottery and designs from the early 1900’s as a source for his inspiration.  The stylistic variation in the moths certainly reminds one of the painted of Florentiono Montoya.  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.  The bands each have two rows of shell hei-shi beads.  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