This is an elegant small water jar by Russell Sanchez.  The jar has a round shoulder and a turned-out rim. The inside of the neck is fully polished red, as is the remainder of the jar.  The neck and base have a checkerboard pattern in black and tan . The shoulder of the jar has an incised avanyu as the design.  It encircles the piece and the background is slipped with black clay. The avanyu has a turquoise eye and 78 inset coral pieces along its back.  There are additional coral insets for the neck and base.  There are also rows of hematite hei-shi beads.  The use of the coral on the deep red clay is striking. The jar was traditionally fired and the stones were inset after the firing.  The coral represents the Summer Clan. The jar is signed, “Russell 2024”.

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