Tony Da Avanyu Jar with Shell Heishi and Turquoise Inlay

This compact yet extraordinary jar by renowned San Ildefonso potter Tony Da highlights his unparalleled mastery and artistic ingenuity. The bottom half of the jar features a high-polished slip that beautifully reflects light, while the upper half is adorned with a meticulously sgraffito-carved avanyu design that elegantly wraps around the jar's surface, beginning just above the shoulder.

At the very top, just below the rim, two delicate bands of very fine shell heishi inlay add an element of extraordinary precision—an embellishment so fine that only the most skilled potters would attempt, let alone achieve with such perfection.

The avanyu's features are highlighted with turquoise inlays: a very small domed cabochon serves as the eye, while a larger blue-green turquoise cabochon with striking copper matrix accentuates the plume, creating a most dramatic focal point. The serpent's forked, lightning-shaped tongue, symbolizing the power of water and storms, is carved with extraordinary detail. Between the lightning bolts are four delicately rendered bear paws, reinforcing the avanyu's role as a life-giving rain bringer and its spiritual connection to nature.

The contrast of textures, from the pristine, polished exterior to the subtle finger marks on the interior, reveals the human touch of the artist, a hallmark of Tony Da's genius. The jar's perfectly balanced, globular form adds to its elegance and harmony. Signed on the bottom with Tony Da's iconic geometric DA signature, this piece is a testament to his legacy as a master of Pueblo pottery.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Tony Da Avanyu Jar with Shell Heishi and Turquoise Inlay is from the collection of a family from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Recommended Reading: The Life and Art of Tony Da by Charles King and Richard Spivey

TAGS: San Ildefonso Pueblo, Popovi Da, Maria, Julian Martinez, pottery, Maria and Julian, utilitarian pottery, Popovi Da began assisting Maria, painting, jewelry, fetishes, jewelry boxes, prehistoric Mimbres culture, ceramics, Tony Da