This is an elegantly stylized water jar by Nathan Youngblood.  The jar is fully carved, highly polished, and fired a deep red.  The shape of the jar is one that Nathan has often used for his pottery with a low shoulder and a slightly turned out neck. The designs are carved into the clay in three sections. The central band has a “sunburst” with the sun rays showing from behind the clouds. Below in the same section are rain and clouds. The next band of design is at an angle and has an avanyu encircling the jar.  Nathan is one of the few potters who creates designs at such unusual angles which also allows him to nearly completely carved a vessel.  Near the base are also cloud and lightning designs  Extending up from the base is an etched agave plant.   The neck of the jar is fully polished as is the inside of the neck.  There are very small deer tracks on the rim of the jar!  The carving on this jar is amazingly complex.  Note all the various contrasting round and angular spaces!  One might expect this amount of carving on a vessel twice this size.  On a technical note, there is a continuous precision and depth to the carving in his pottery.  The deep red clay slip is high in iron oxide and fires a deep red.  The contrast of the polished red and matte is stunning!  It is an exceptionally intricate jar with sharp edges and complex patterns. The jar is traditionally fired and on Nathan’s red 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”.