This is an intricately etched seedpot by Wallace Youvella.  He was the husband of Hopi-Tewa potter Iris Nampeyo  It is fully polished red and the design is etched into the surface. The top has a large turtle that is polished red carved deeply into the clay.  The turtle is incised with cloud designs and there is a single inset piece of turquoise on the back.  Along the rim the seedpot is incised with a basket design and note the tiny lines representing the coils of the basket!  The bottom was polished red with an etched cloud pattern.  The seedpot was made between 1976-9.  Wallace was one of the first three men at Hopi in the mid-1970’s 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 which 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.