Christopher Youngblood creates intricately carved vessels that reflect a perfect balance of matte and polished surfaces with intricately carved designs.  This piece is part of a series entitled, “Reflections”, which draws inspiration from the painted pottery of Sarafina Tafoya. This jar has a high shoulder and a sloping side.  Above the shoulder are carved two sets of eight carved feathers, for a total fo 16.  They are deeply cut into the clay. They are separated by triangular clouds, and kiva step designs.  The imagery was inspired by the center of a polychrome plate by Sarafina from the 1930s (see last photo).  The carved areas are highly polished and the jar was traditionally fired. The coloration of the red is stunning!  It is signed on the bottom, ‘Chris Youngblood”. Chris has won “Best of Pottery” at Santa Fe Indian Market and “Best of Pottery” at Gallup Ceremonials.  He was featured in the book, Spoken Through Clay, and continues to be one of the leading young potters working today.