Artist Media Series
Living Artists
Historic
Youngblood, Nathan – Black Water Jar with Raindrop Rim (1980s)
5"w x 6.5"h
$ 1,800.00
This is an early jar by Nathan Youngblood. The jar is coil-built and the surface is fully polished. The jar has a low shoulder and a fluted or “raindrop” rim. I wrote in the book, “Born of Fire”:
“Beyond the cultural importance imbued in the shape of the vessel, the legends of Santa Clara Pueblo inspired Sara Fina, and were incorporated into her pottery. On the shoulder of her water jars, a second raised section or “double shoulder” created a “rainbow band,” representing a prayer to prevent the water from evaporating from the jar. She often pinched the clay on the rims of her jars, calling this a “rain drop rim”—the significance was to keep the water sweet and drinkable.” Charles S. King Born of Fire
Even the top of the rim is fully polished! The jar was fired a glassy black. It is signed on the bottom with his name and his Tewa hallmark meaning “Deer Path”. The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
In stock
Description
This is an early jar by Nathan Youngblood. The jar is coil-built and the surface is fully polished. The jar has a low shoulder and a fluted or “raindrop” rim. I wrote in the book, “Born of Fire”:
“Beyond the cultural importance imbued in the shape of the vessel, the legends of Santa Clara Pueblo inspired Sara Fina, and were incorporated into her pottery. On the shoulder of her water jars, a second raised section or “double shoulder” created a “rainbow band,” representing a prayer to prevent the water from evaporating from the jar. She often pinched the clay on the rims of her jars, calling this a “rain drop rim”—the significance was to keep the water sweet and drinkable.” Charles S. King Born of Fire
Even the top of the rim is fully polished! The jar was fired a glassy black. It is signed on the bottom with his name and his Tewa hallmark meaning “Deer Path”. The jar is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration, or repair.
Learn More
Brand
Youngblood, Nathan (b. 1954)
Nathan Youngblood
Nathan Youngblood is the grandson of noted potter Margaret Tafoya and the son of Mela Youngblood; Nathan has a traditional legacy of highly polished, deep, carved pottery. In 1976, he moved in with his grandparents and began an intense apprenticeship making pottery under their guidance. Attention to the small details was also imparted to him by his mother and grandmother. His work's precision is particularly evident in his forms, which have near geometric perfection in shape and symmetry. Nathan says, "I realize I don't make pots; I'm just involved in the process. The clay does what it wants and goes where it wants to go. I stick my hands in the clay, and where it goes, I follow."
Nathan Youngblood's clay art has evolved dramatically throughout his career. His early work focused on classic Santa Clara shapes and designs. In the early 1990s, Nathan re-examined his experiences with art worldwide and how it could be incorporated as part of his designs. His love of Asian ceramics influenced how he designed his pottery and utilized matte and polished surfaces to emphasize form. As a result, the designs seemed more complicated, less linear, and more ethereal in concept. As a result, he "opened the door for other potters to use clay as a vehicle for their personal and cultural experiences."
Over the years, Nathan has won over 140 awards for his pottery. He is one of only a handful of Santa Clara potters who use natural clay slips to create color contrasts of red and tan in his pottery. This combination of polished red and tan sections with matte or micaceous surfaces has become the new Santa Clara "polychrome." Throughout his career, he has continually built on the lessons learned from his mother and grandmother. This legacy has created a solid foundation for the evolution of his pottery, and "he has set the bar high for any potter to balance creativity, innovation, and technical expertise.