This is a classic style water jar by Russell Sanchez.  The shape has the side shoulder and the turned out rim. The neck of the jar has melon rib swirls which extend upward.  They are pushed into the clay and create a beautiful flow of the vessel.  The bottom of the jar is also fully polished. Around the shoulder are three bands of shell and turquoise hei-shi beads.  There is a simplicity to the jar but also a beauty to the stone polished surface.  The melon rib neck is so highly polished it almost creates an optical illusion of the jar spinning!  Russell continues to revive historic San Ildefonso designs with his innovative style of pottery.  The bottom of the jar has the classic indention of traditional San Ildefonso water jars.  It’s exciting how Russell uses these historic elements to keep them alive on his contemporary pottery.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, ‘Russell”.