This is a classic smaller 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 is carved with a water serpent (avanyu) encircling the piece.  The rim and avanyu are both fully polished. The bottom section of the bowl is matte.  The bowl was fired to a deep black coloration.  It is in very good condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.  It is signed on the bottom, “Mela Youngblood”.