This is a highly polished melon bowl by Nathan Youngblood.  The bowl is deeply carved with 18 symmetrical ribs.  Each rib is carved into the clay and they come to point on their edges.  The entire piece is fully polished to a high shine.  The bowl was traditionally fired to a glassy black coloration.  This bowl has perfect coloration and even tonality.  It is signed on the bottom in the clay “Nathan Youngblood” and the hallmark of his name in Tewa.