Elizabeth Medina Zia 4-Color Storage Jar with Birds, Flowers, and Rainbow

This beautifully crafted jar by Elizabeth Medina showcases her exceptional skill, painted with a precise touch using dark brown and two shades of sienna on a cream slip. The jar's walls are a uniform ⅜" thick, contributing to its elegant yet durable form. A painted rim complements the smooth interior. The design features four alternating motifs of Zia birds flanked by flowers, gracefully placed above and below a two-toned sienna rainbow, all outlined in dark brown. These motifs repeat in a rhythmic pattern around the pot, creating a harmonious flow.

Elizabeth Medina (b. 1956), born Elizabeth Toya, grew up in Jemez Pueblo. After marrying Marcellus Medina of Zia Pueblo, she transitioned from the Jemez style of pottery to the Zia style under the guidance of her mother-in-law, Sofia Medina, who taught her the traditional techniques of Zia pottery-making.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Elizabeth Medina Zia 4-Color Storage Jar with Birds, Flowers, and Rainbow is from the estate of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading: Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Jemez Pueblo, Sofia Medina, Zia Pueblo, Marcellius Medina, Southwest Indian Pottery, Elizabeth Medina