Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handcarved Pot with Avanyu

Description

Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handcarved Pot with Avanyu by Stella Chavarria

Wonderful smaller handbuilt and carved pot by Santa Clara potter Stella Chavarria. This pot is deeply carved with a water serpent (Avanyu), then traditionally fired. The black is from firing the clay over and over again and polishing the piece between firings. It is the oxygen that is deprived during hot firing process that creates that blackened surface of the clay. A beautiful piece of Santa Clara pottery. Avanyu symbolizes not only the importance of water in the desert cultures but also pays tribute to the water serpent who saved the people when their land flooded. The serpent swam up to the mesa where they were starving and regurgitated all of the seeds they would need to replant their crops and feed themselves.