Youngblood, Nathan – Red “Conchos” Small Storage Jar

4.5"w x 5"h

$ 5,400.00

This is a deeply carved red and buff small storage jar by Nathan Youngblood.  The jar has a round shoulder and a turned-out rim.  The neck is polished red.  There are three deeply carved medallions on the sides, resembling the medallions seen on a concho belt.  Nearly a decade ago Nathan designed a line of jewelry.  This returns to the tight designs of his jewelry but created in clay!  The largest of the medallions has cloud and rain designs.  It connects to the two other medallions.  One has lightning in the center, and the other is clouds over water.  Connecting the two smaller medallions is a band of cloud and rain designs.  There are cloud and water swirls carved into the negative space of the jar.  The piece is highly polished a deep red with bands of matte. The matte creates a visual contrast to the polished surfaces.  The piece was traditionally fired a deep red color.  On Nathan’s redware 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 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”.