This new red jar by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez is complex in design and larger in size.  The jar has a round body and elongated neck.  The neck and base are each carved with 29 swirling feathers.  The swirl from the rim to the shoulder and below the shoulder to the base.  Around the center of the jar are six carved panels. The center of each panel is carved with a different design and stone polished. There is a bear paw, a swirling bird, Sun Face, two different antelope, and a quail. There are inset pieces of turquoise for the eyes of the quail, bird, and antelope.  Surrounding them is a black/brown micaceous clay that accentuates and complements the carved designs.  Linda said she had to apply the black micaceous clay in several layers to create the even coloration.  The jar was traditionally fired outdoors and it is a deep, rich red coloration.  The complexity of the design along with the coloration make it a striking piece! It is signed on the bottom, “Linda Tafoya-Sanchez”.

The story of the Water Serpent as told by Toni Roller:

“The water serpent, we were told, it represents life. It represents the water, which is important to life, to people, plants, and animals. The water design is very important to put on pots to honor that serpent. We used to ask, “What is the water serpent?” We were told the water serpent is in the rivers, the big rivers. At one time, when my mother was young, there were no bridges to cross over the Rio Grande. They were always told that if you see a water serpent, your life is going to be long. She did see one laying on the rock. She said it was huge, snakelike, and she said she just stared at it and couldn’t holler for anyone else to see. If you look at the serpent design, it has all the weather designs. The lightning on the tongue of the serpent, and there are mountain designs and rain designs and all the weather elements. .”  Toni Roller, Spoken Through Clay