Youngblood, Christopher – 16 Rib Swirl Water Jar with Raindrop Rim

5.5"w x 4.75"h

$ 5,500.00

Christopher Youngblood creates intricately carved vessels that reflect a perfect balance of matte and polished surfaces with intricately carved designs.  This is the first time Chris has made a water jar in this shape!  The jar has an elegant form with a narrow base, wide shoulder and raindrop rim. The jar itself is deeply carved with 16 swirl melon ribs which begin at the neck and turn at the shoulder and then again to the base. They are symmetric in form and fully polished.  The lip of the jar is rounded out with the melon ribs, creating the classic “raindrop rim”.   I wrote in “Born of Fire”:

“Beyond the cultural importance imbued in the shape of the vessel, the legends of Santa Clara Pueblo inspired Sara Fina, and were incorporated into her pottery. On the shoulder of her water jars, a second raised section or “double shoulder” created a “rainbow band,” representing a prayer to prevent the water from evaporating from the jar. She often pinched the clay on the rims of her jars, calling this a “rain drop rim”—the significance was to keep the water sweet and drinkable.

Here, the “raindrop rim” is an elegant addition to the jar.  Note as well that the entire neck is fully polished on the inside!  Few potters attempt this as the added water to polish can seep through and ruin the front of the vessel.  However, the result is visually stunning as it gives the jar an added depth of appearance. The jar was traditionally fired a deep black and it is signed on the bottom in the clay.  I’m pleased that I have been working with Chris since 2010 when I wrote the first article on him for Native People’s magazine.  It is exciting to see how his work has progressed over the years and the awards for his pottery, including the 2014 “Best of Pottery” at Santa Fe Indian Market.  He was featured in the book, Spoken Through Clay, and continues to be one of the leading young potters working today.