The approximate measurements are:
Width - 11.25 inches
Height - 14.5 inches
Mouth - 5.25 inches
Weight - 7 pounds 4 ounces
This Superb piece of legacy art is the creation of Ismael S. Tena. He is also often called Ismael Sandavol. Señor Teña is the son of Eusebio Sandoval and Esperanza Tena. His mother and he specialize in making black-on-black pottery decorated with ancestral Paquime geometric designs. His is famous for his heavy representations of Paquime designs.
This pottery is overwhelmed with designs honoring their ancient Paquime culture. An checkered pattern representing the celestial heavens wraps around the collar and are incorporated in sashes sweeping across the piece. Crosses and squares and geometric triangles are in the sashes as well. Square spirals, their meaning unknown, yet found across ancient cultures of the southwest are prominently displayed. Rising suns (or are they setting suns also peak out from behind the sashes). The time and effort is immense to create a piece this size with this detail.
The clay is mined from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range near the village of Mata Ortiz. It is then hand-coiled and glazed using natural dyes. This very traditional shape has a wonderful black mirror finish. The ancient patterns are sharp and fresh. The high polish is achieved by rubbing a mixture of kerosene and graphite on the surface of the pot and polishing it with a stone. Videos of this process in action are fascinating. The pot is then painted with manganese, fired, washed, and wiped down to get this beautiful, finished product.
This is a higher quality Mata Ortiz piece which I have put through rigorous testing, including the sounding test, to assure I am selling the penultimate in pottery from Mata Ortiz. All my pieces go through the gauntlet of quality testing to assure me (and my clients) I am selling pottery of the highest standards of durability and aspect.
Similar pottery to this, created by Señor Teña have recently sold in the $700 range.
Be sure to find the quarter next to the pottery for a good size scale.
A pottery ring for sitting this piece on is included.