Sanchez, Russell – Red and Tan Bear with Sun and Bear Paw Designs

5.25" long x 3.5"h

$ 6,200.00

Russell Sanchez continues to be one of the true innovators in Pueblo pottery.  Each piece is perfectly coil built, stone polished and etched.  This bear is distinctive with its head down.  Russell said that he made it so that it would look similar in form to the etched bears that he does (see the last 2 photos).  The bear is fully polished red and the back is tan.  There is a mica slip separating the two sections and mica on the inside of the feet.  The top of the back is etched with sun and bear paw designs.  There are inset jet and turquoise stones. There is jet and turquoise hei-shi beads inset into the back of the bear. Russell said that he double fired the bear, so that it was black fired first, then fired a second time to create the distinctive coloration.  The bear is a symbol of strength and the heartline is a traditional image used to symbolize the heart as the center of power in the animal.  The bear is hollow as the piece is coil built.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay.