Youngblood, Mela – Bowl with Bear Paws (1970’s)

This is a traditional bowl by Mela Youngblood.  She was a daughter of Margaret Tafoya and began making pottery in the late 1960s.  She quickly achieved a distinctive style for her work.  Each piece of her work was very highly polished and when carved the edges are distinctly rounded.  This bowl has a round shape and there are three bear paws carved into the surface.  The bear paws are symbolic of a bear that led the Pueblo people to water during a drought.  The entire piece is fully polished and fired a glassy black.  The bowl is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mela Youngblood”.  The traditional design and highly polished surface make it a classic of her pottery.