Helen Shupla is certainly most famous for her exceptional melon jars.  Her melon jars are the very traditional form with the ribs pushed out in the clay.  This melon jar is wide in shape, creating a very organic gourd appearance. The jar has 19 melon ribs pushed out in the clay.  The entire piece is fully polished and then it was traditionally fired.  It was fired a dark reddish-brown coloration.  Helen fired her melon jars every color from red to black, tan, or sienna.  There is a slight angle to each rib, which is a tradmark of her pottery as she would turn her fingers when pushing out the ribs.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Helen Shupla”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  There is a second place ribbon from the 1981 Santa Fe Indian Market.