This is a deeply carved tri-color water jar by Nathan Youngblood.  The jar has an elegant shape with a round shoulder and slightly turned-out rim. The neck of the jar is highly polished red.  The body of the jar is deeply carved.  There is an avanyu (water serpent), walking bear paw design, and feather pattern.  Each of the design elements is different with contrasting angles and swirls.  As the jar is turned, there is an entirely different visual appearance!  The designs are polished red except for the tail of the avanyu, which is tan.  The tongue of the avanyu is matte, creating the “tri-color” of red, tan, and buff.  The bottom of the jar is fully polished tan. Did you know that the tan coloration in Santa Clara pottery is one of the most difficult to achieve?  The tan coloration is achieved by adding water to the surface of the dry vessel and then beginning to stone polish.  The film created on the surface becomes the “slip” and the tan is actually the natural color of the clay.  It is VERY difficult to get a high shine to the tan.  As well, during a traditional firing, it is also the riskiest as smoke and ash can easily discolor the surface.  The hoped-for result is an even caramel coloration on the surface of the piece.  Nathan is one of only a handful of potters who uses this technique and his are always exceptional.  This jar has a deep tan coloration combined with a dark red.  They work together visuall, with a high, glossy polish.  On Nathan’s tri-color pieces, after they are fired, he uses screwdrivers to scrape the background area and the side of the carving.  This can take almost as much time as the carving or polishing itself!  Amazing the amount of time that goes into each vessel and yet how stunning they appear!  It is signed on the bottom in the clay with his name and hallmarked name in Tewa, which means “Deer Path”.