Youngblood, Nathan – “Billowing Clouds” Red and Buff Jar

6.75"w x 6.75"h

$ 6,800.00

This is a striking jar by Nathan Youngblood.  He is well known for his deeply carved pottery and use of both traditional Santa Clara and other designs. This jar has a round body and a short neck.  The top and bottom areas are fully polished red and the lower section is matte.  Nathan says of the design,

“The matte areas are the hills around Santa Clara.  Above them the story begins with the three red carved areas.  These are three cloud designs, like you would see forming off in the distance.  As they grow, those three become two clouds, which are the next two designs.  Finally, as the jar is turned, there is one large cloud with lighting and rain designs. The storm and the all important rain water have arrived.  In one of the lower sections you can see that I etched into the clay two small deer tracks. Those represent me (my name in Tewa meaning Deer Path) watching the storm clouds billow on the horizon.”

The jar is very fully carved and each of the sections of design change, flow and interlock as the jar is turned.  The red clay slip is deep and rich in coloration and the jar was traditionally fired. The last photo is one that I took of the jar in the fire! The polishing is spectacular on this jar with an amazing shine from the stone polished surface!  While the shape, carving, and designing might seem like enough, Nathan also takes his pottery one step further. After it is fired, he uses small screwdrivers and scrapes the sides of the carved designs and the recessed areas, to create a visually striking contrast.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay with his name and deer tracks, which represent his name in Tewa.  Simply stunning!