Christopher Youngblood creates intricately carved vessels that reflect a perfect balance of matte and polished surfaces with intricately carved designs. This is an exceptional melon jar with very deeply carved swirling ribs.  The ribs are bold and wide, creating a large area of polished surface. The piece is called, “One Day…”.  That is a reflection on the number of ribs, 16 on the jar and 8 on the lid for 24 (as in the hours of the day, of course).  The ribs on the lid flow up from the base and across the top of the piece.  Chris said he worked to polish them all at one time.  Chris said of his melon rib pieces:

“They are hard to carve and get each rib symmetrical.  The polishing is the key.  I will polish three ribs at a time, the leave a space.  In the end, I’ll go back and polish the single ribs.  This is the greatest chance for error as you can mess up the surrounding ribs that are already finished.  I think the melon rib pieces appear very modern. I design them thinking about how the light will reflect across the surface.  The best part of the melon, when done correctly, is you get a reflection from every angle across the surface.”

Think that each rib is polishing on both sides so even a small bowl has twice the polished area!  The piece is fully polished and fired a glassy black.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Chris Youngblood”.  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 2104 “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.

The best part of the melon, when done correctly, is you get a reflection from every angle across the surface.”

Think that each rib is polishing on both sides so even a small bowl has twice the polished area!  The piece is fully polished and traditionally black.  It is has a glassy surface from the polishing and firing.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Chris Youngblood”.  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 2104 “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.