Diné (Navajo) Triple-Spouted Vessel With Appliqués [A]

The Claws made a variety of pottery shapes: traditional-style cooking jars, wedding vases, triple-spouted jars, and ceramic beads. One of their unique pieces was a triple-spouted wedding vessel. Bertha would form the vessel and then turn it over to her husband, Silas, who would then decorate it with a variety of appliquéd and incised plant and animal motifs—usually in high relief and occasionally in full round. These motifs depict a wide range of subjects that includes cactus plants and blooming yuccas, oak leaves with acorns, ears of corn, a menagerie of domestic animals, and horned toads. Silas often applied oil paint in a range of colors to portions of the appliqués to make them even more realistic. He then would coat the vessel with varnish. This vessel features three American bison separated by grasses.

Some of the slip has separated from the clay body on the underside of the vessel. This damage is not visible when the vessel is in its upright position. It can only be seen if the vessel is turned upside down. Otherwise, the piece is in fine condition.

Reference:
The Navajo Pottery of Silas and Bertha Claw, by Ed Dobbins and Scott C. Russell. American Indian Art Magazine, Spring 2007. Vol. 32, No. 2.