Spectacular!  Mark Tahbo was known not just for his painted pottery, but especially for the blushes on his pottery from the firing.  This large jar is from 2001.  It is coil-built and painted with bee-weed and clay slips.

“I remember when he was working on this piece and entered it for judging at the Heard.  He was so excited that he could make a piece this size with such a flat top. That was always a goal for Mark, to get the top perfectly flat, which technically, is very difficult.  As well, Mark had just begun using the mavue colored clay on his pottery.  He found some of it and, while it couldn’t be polished, if left matte, it turned out this amazing mauve coloration.”  Charles King

This jar has a flat top and sloping sides. The top is painted with a feather pattern that extends out from the rim.  It is multi-color with red, mavue, and burgundy clay slips.  Around the sides are large stylized birds.  Each bird’s head is below the shoulder and the tail and wings are at and above the shoulder.  The jar was traditionally fired to create deep and intense blushes on the surface.  Mark was masterful at his firing and wanted the most intense blushes possible and would often fire his pieces a second time if they didn’t get strong enough blushes.  The jar is signed on the bottom “Mark Tahbo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.  There is a “Best of Division” ribbon from the 2001 Heard Indian Market.   Definitely a classic of his pottery!