Description
Traditional handmade Native American Indian Pottery from Indigenous Pueblos of the Southwest. Guaranteed authentic. Excellent vintage condition.
Own a striking piece of Native American ceramic history with this vintage deep-carved blackware jar by Santa Clara potter Chris Martinez. Formed entirely by hand using ancient coiling methods and native clay gathered from the New Mexico landscape, this well-proportioned vessel highlights the incredible precision required to master the Santa Clara style. Because the walls of the pot must be built exceptionally thick to accommodate the carving process, the artist must maintain perfect moisture balance in the clay before meticulously excavating the design.
This particular jar features the iconic Avanyu—the revered horned water serpent—whose flowing, undulating body represents life-giving rain and the power of waterways in the arid Southwest. Above the serpent, carved kiva step motifs beautifully symbolize rain clouds. The uncarved surfaces were painstakingly hand-rubbed with a smooth river stone to achieve a flawless, mirror-like gloss. Fired outdoors in a demanding traditional reduction atmosphere, where the fire is smothered to trap carbon in the clay, the final piece offers a breathtaking visual and tactile contrast between the radiant polished surface and the matte, textured recesses of the carving.
