This is an unusual carved jar by Margaret Tafoya.  The jar was made in the 1930s. It is coil-built and fully polished. The piece is carved with a very angular avanyu as the design.  What is unusual about the jar is the design.  On this piece, the tail goes over the head of the avanyu, as opposed to the more classic version with the head over the tail.  As well, note the coloration. This deep red is the clay slip that was used in the 1930s at Santa Clara and then it becomes are more orangish-red in the 1940s.  The style of her carving on this piece is more angular and has almost a modernist appearance.  It’s exciting to come across such creative pieces of her early pottery!  It is signed on the bottom, “Margaret Tafoya”.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  Definitely a piece of Pueblo history in clay!