This is one of the few large tiles by Mark Tahbo.  The designs on this piece are painted with bee-weed (a plant) and there is an additional red clay slip used.  The coloration is from the traditional firing.  Mark says of this piece,

“This tile is very large in size making it very difficult to have it turn out in such perfect condition.  But I did it!!  The design is inspired by Nampeyo of Hano.  She used it inside a bowl. I took the design and altered it to give it my own personal flare.  This piece shows two snakes in revers and connected together.  One has a diamond back and the other is a Hopi style serepnt.  Personally, I see the design as two feathered snakes, which are part of Hopi ceremonies.  The two “insect like” figures are the shrines for prayers.  There is a rare color used in this tile.  There are slight hints of blue!  It is a clay which is similar to the white kaolin clay and it adds another bit of beauty to this piece.”

It is exciting to see how Mark reinterprets such a culturally and historically infused design.  The entire surface of the tile is fully polished before it is painted. The back of the tile is signed with a pipe for his “Tobacco Clan”.