While Nancy Youngblood is known for her swirl melon bowls and carved pottery, she started out her career making miniatures.  This miniature is from 1980 and it is one of her few early boxes.  Around the shoulder of the box it is very deeply carved with a tan polished avanyu.  The background area is slipped red.  The lid of the box is also very deeply carved with an avanyu.  It is exceptional how deeply she is able to carve into her her pottery relative to the size of the piece!  This box is in excellent condition and it is signed on the bottom, “Nancy Youngblood”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.