Mark Tahbo was renown for his creative pottery shapes, designs, and firings.  He learned to make pottery from his great-grandmother, Grace Chapella.  Each piece reflects the symmetry and thin walls of an excellent potter. The designs are painted using native clay slips and bee-weed (a plant) for the black.  This is one of his few miniatures. It is from 1990. The piece is painted on the top with bird tail designs along with stars (the “x’s).  There are more stars on the bottom.  It was traditionally fired but with very light blushes.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mark Tahbo”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.