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 a fully polished water jar with a round shoulder and elongated neck. There is a single incised bear paw on the neck of the jar.  The jar was fully polished and etched with a Sunrise design on one side. As the jar is turned, there are three large bears separated by bird wing designs.  The jar was fired a glassy black.  After the firing, the sunrise design was two-toned sienna.  The inside rim of the jar was two-toned green, as was the top of the lid.  Russell then added all the stones and hei-shi beads.  There are 207 inset single pieces of turquoise and hematite on this jar!  Along the neck there is a band of copper leafing with titanium hei-shi beads above and below.  Below the shoulder, there is another band of copper leafing and two rows of titanium hei-shi beads.  The lid has inset stones and a matching band of copper leafing and titanium hei-shi beads.  The jar is colorful and complex, yet has a cohesive appearance in the designs and shape.  The colors from the firing, inset stones, and hei-shi beads are visually striking and creative.  The jar is signed, “Russell ’24”.