Description
Handcrafted by Zia Pueblo potters Elizabeth and Marcellus Medina this beautiful butterfly and cloud olla bowl was created using hand gathered clay and all-natural pigments. With butterflies said to represent love, hope, and renewal this bowl also features traditional design with symbolism rooted in prayers for rain.The Medinas works in the traditional Zia Pueblo style of pottery, slipping their natural clay vessels with a buff background then painting polychrome designs in red, brown and black. This expertly crafted bowl is a timeless work of fine art from Zia Pueblo's premier potters.
Bowl measures 7-1/2" long and wide; stands 7-1/4" tall. Comes with a certificate of authenticity.
Details
- Bowl handmade by Elizabeth & Marcellus Medina (Zia Pueblo)
- Natural clay with all-natural vegetal and mineral slip
- Crafted through traditional horizontal coil method
- Deer dancer, animal, rain, cloud designs
- Pot measures 2-3/4” high x 3-3/4” long x 3-3/4” wide
- Comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity
Handcrafted works of Native American art require special care. For more information about proper care and cleaning, please read our Care Guide.
About the Artist
Elizabeth and Marcellus Medina are widely considered the most skilled potters working in Zia Pueblo today. Originally from Jemez, Elizabet has lived in Zia Pueblo since 1978 and learned the art of traditional pottery-making from her mother-in-law, Sofia Medina. Marcellus (b. 1954) is a self-taught painter who works in watercolors and acrylics. The husband-and-wife team often collaborate to create exquisite handmade pottery known for its incredible craftsmanship, elegance of form and finely painted designs. In their pottery collaborations, Elizabeth creates and forms the pots by hand from homemade clay, and Marcellus paints the unique, highly detailed designs onto each vessel. The Medinas have won many awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and other prestigious Native art shows.
Collector's Guide
The most celebrated and recognized art form of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, Pueblo pottery is known around the world for its remarkable beauty and craftsmanship. It has been made in much the same way for over a thousand years, with every step of creation completed by hand. Pueblo potters do not use a wheel but construct pots using the traditional horizontal coil method or freely forming the shape. After the pot is formed, the artist polishes the piece with a natural polishing stone, such as a river stone, then paints it with a vegetal, mineral or commercial slip. Finally, the pot is fired in an outdoor fire or kiln using manure or wood as fuel. Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, Jemez and Acoma Pueblos have distinctive pottery styles that are especially prized by collectors, but there are accomplished potters working in all Pueblos. Today, Pueblo pottery is an exciting and dynamic form, with many artists pairing traditional techniques with innovative and stylized designs. Those potters who continue to create pots using traditional methods possess an extraordinary level of skill, and their pots are highly valuable works of fine art that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Read our Native American Pottery Collector's Guide.Our Guarantee of Authenticity
At the Indian Pueblo Store we guarantee that your purchase is an original and authentic work handcrafted by Native American artists as defined by the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. We ask our artists to complete an extensive certification process, providing a CIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) card and other documentation of their Native American heritage. Our team of experts carefully inspects every product to guarantee it is handcrafted using traditional, sustainable processes and natural materials of only the highest quality. We record the place and date of each purchase and pride ourselves in paying a fair price that allows artists to make a living practicing their craft. At a time when many commercially-made products are being sold as handcrafted Native American art, our in-depth purchase process allows us to guarantee the authenticity of every unique piece of fine art we offer. For more than 35 years, we have made it a priority to visit artists in their studio or home to purchase their latest handcrafted pieces and learn about their work. We have developed lasting relationships with artists, as well as dealers and collectors, and we take pride in being a trusted destination for fine Native American art.