This new red jar by Linda Tafoya-Sanchez is striking in design and polish.  The jar has a round shoulder and a short neck.  The neck is carved with 27 feathers, each extending downward.  There are an additional 27 feathers carved extending up from the base, for a total of 54.  Each feather flows with the shape of the jar.  Around the center are two carved and rounded bands.  They  are slipped with black micaceous clay.  The piece is fulliy polished and traditionally fired a striking red coloration.  The style of the bowl has a very modernist appearance and yet is classic in traditional design elements. 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

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