WOW!  This is a stunning large open bowl by Daryl Whitegeese.  He is known for his traditional style Santa Clara pottery.  He coil builds amazing shapes which are then carved and stone polished.  This shape is one of his technically most difficult.  The bowl is carved on the outside and then the entire piece is fully polished.  Daryl says that he starts polishing on the inside of the bowl first so that if all the moisture from the slip seeps through he will know if the piece is going to survive.  He then polishes the rim and the the outside of the bowl.  This was a characteristic of his grandmother, Margaret Tafoya’s pottery.  Today, few potters take the risk to polish both the outside and inside of the bowl.  The result, however, is stunning as this piece is very highly polished and the interior shine adds to the overall dramatic appearance.  The outside of the bowl is carved with a water serpent (avanyu), which encircles the piece.  The bowl was traditionally fired. It is signed, “Daryl Whitegeese”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It has an Honorable Mention ribbon from the 2012 Heard Museum Indian Market.