This is a small bowl by Margaret Tafoya is from the 1960’s.  The bowl is fully carved with a water serpent as a design.  As the bowl is turned the body of the water serpent (avanyu) creates cloud and lightning designs.  The mouth and eye of the avanyu are painted onto the clay, which was very typical of this time.  While Margaret was known for her large vessels, why make something so small?  The reason is that potters of her generation would not ‘throw away” clay that was not used, but also not mix a large portion of it with the new clay.  So, when they were running out of clay, they would often make smaller vessels like this bowl.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Margaret”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.