This is an intricately etched red bowl by Wallace Youvella.  He was the husband of noted Hopi-Tewa potter Iris Nampeyo  It is fully polished red and the design is both carved and etched into the surface. There is a medallion on one side with a realistic eagle in flight.  It is surrounded by deeply carved kiva step patterns and etched feathers.  It is a very complicated and elegant design!  The piece was made between 1976-9.  Wallace was one of the first three men at Hopi in the mid-1970s to begin making pottery (the others were Mark Tahbo and Thomas Polacca).  Interestingly, Thomas and Wallace (who were brothers-in-law) both started with traditional Hopi-Tewa designs but met resistance from the women potters, so began making pieces that were either fully polished and etched or carved.  This piece is signed on the bottom in the clay, “Wallace Youvella”.  It is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, restoration or repair.

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