Santa Clara Polished Red and Micaceous Bowl [SOLD]

This is one of the most extraordinary bowls from a visual standpoint as well as a technical execution standpoint.  The Santa Clara traditional clay was covered with a micaceous slip after the carving of designs was completed. The design chosen by the artist incorporated frogs and butterflies, an unusual mixture but one that works well.

Each of the frogs is silhouetted by carving away the clay surrounding it, leaving each frog as if added to the surface.  Most of the frog’s body surface was slipped in red clay which was then stone-polished to a brilliant sheen. The remainder of the body, an egg-shaped surface on the frog’s back, was left in matte finish with painted geometric designs within.

Between each frog is a butterfly, each of which is of a different shape and size.  Each is stone-polished tan clay except for the body. The body of each was slipped in red clay, left in matte finish, and highlighted with white flecks.

The interior of the bowl was completely slipped in micaceous clay after which the artist painted a frog in the center of the bowl.  The frog was left in matte finish.

Autumn Borts Medlock is a granddaughter of Mary Cain and daughter of Linda Cain.  She is an extraordinary potter with a very creative talent for design execution. This bowl is signed and dated 2009.

Condition: this Santa Clara Polished Red and Micaceous Bowl is in original condition

Provenance: from the estate of Martha (Marti) Struever, Santa Fe dealer and collector who passed away in August 2017.

Recommended Reading: Fourteen Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham