Black and Sienna Plate with Micaceous Clay and Turquoise Hieshe [SOLD]

This plate or shallow dish by Russell Sanchez has it all.  It is San Ildefonso blackware pottery with a sienna rim.  The surface is covered in micaceous slip left in matte finish.  To start with the center of the plate, we see first a polished square with small micaceous squares superimposed to form a checkerboard design, a design that represents the two moieties—Summer People and Winter People.  This square is surrounded by brown shell hieshe with occasional turquoise hieshe imbedded into the clay.

From the center square design there radiates five long black triangular elements from each of the four sides.  The outer two triangles of each of the four groups have hooks at their apex.  Enclosing the whole design are three rows of turquoise hieshe of the finest quality, each imbedded into the clay.  Surrounding the outer row of turquoise hieshe is a circle of dots, spaced about 1/8-inch apart.  The back of the plate is black and gray in color, a result of a very hot firing and is signed with the artist’s name.  Russell achieves an extremely hot firing because it produces a more durable product.

The pottery plate is a true work of art conceived and executed by one of today’s finest pueblo potters.

Condition: new

Recommended Reading:  Art of Clay: Timeless Pottery of the Southwest by Lee Cohen

Provenance: from the artist