Stunning!  This is an exceptional and unique red box by Nancy Youngblood.  This is the first time we have had a red box from her.  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 an eight “S” swirl from the rim to the base. The next has sharp-edged slant ribs.  The third side has clouds, rain, lightning, and a river below.  The clouds and river are polished red, while the lightning and raindrops are slipped with mica. The final side has a star in the center with swirling clouds.  The star has micaceous slipped ribs and the clouds are all fully polished.  The lid fits perfectly into the top of the box.  There is a waterfall design on one side and a cloud and lighting pattern on the opposite. 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 red, which is always technically more difficult.  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 2022”.  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.