Christopher Youngblood is one of the exciting younger potters working today.  This large jar has a carved hummingbird on one side and a carved swan on the opposite side.  They are each deeply carved into the clay and fully polished.  Note how the swan is carved above bands of water created using melon ribs!  Separating the birds are swirling water and cloud designs. One side has three concentric circles that appear as if there were three stones dropped into the water!  Each “rib” of the circles are fully polished.  The jar has a tall lid with flat sides.  Each side has a single band of water carved in the style of a melon rib.  The jar is complicated in style of the carving and the amount of polished areas there are on the piece. Both the lid and jar were traditionally fired. Chris says that he focuses on each piece, taking the time to work on the shape and stone polish the surface to a high shine, often polishing a piece several times to get it right. He has won numerous awards for his pottery, including the 2104 “Best of Pottery” at Santa Fe Indian Market.  The jar is signed, “Chris Youngblood”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.