Stunning!  This is an exceptional and unique clay box by Nancy Youngblood.  The box is fully carved on all four sides.  What makes it so interesting and complex is how the designs flow from one section to another.  One side has seven “S” swirl from the rim to the base. The next has nine sharp-edged slant ribs.  The third side has six “S” Swirl angular ribs.  Finally, there are six horizontal “wave” ribs.  All together on the box there are 28 ribs carved into the clay in four different styles. They are deeply cut and highly polished.  The lid fits perfectly into the top of the box.  There is a waterfall design on both sides of the lid, but note how each side is different!  One side has swirl ribs and the other her classic “S” swirl with more motion. The flat area of the lid is matte and has four swirl bands representing a river extending across the surface.  There are four sides to the box, two sides on the handle of the lid and the carved flat surface of the box…making A LOT of carved and polished surface area.  The piece was traditionally fired a glassy black.  With a box, there is the added risk of cracking in the firing process from the stress on the corners.  The entire surface is also fully stone polished and consider that each rib has two “sides” to be polished and the surface area of the piece is about double its size!  The box and lid are both signed in the clay on the bottom, “Nancy Youngblood”.  Nancy has won numerous awards for her melon bowls including Best of Pottery several times at Santa Fe Indian Market, along with Best of Show.  The box has a blue ribbon from the 2023 Gallup Ceremonials.