Native American Navajo Red Clay Pot--Small Smoke Pot with Spirit Bear by Hilda Whitegoat This beautiful small Navajo red clay pot is etched with traditional symbols and accented with a Spirit Bear. The shape of this pot indicates that it would have been used as a "smoke pot" or one in which the individual would place dried herbs and light the herbs in order to have them smolder and "smoke" or smudge to cleanse the area and the people of evil spirits. This pot is NOT glazed inside and cannot hold liquid. Signed by the artist. The air-dried ceramic clay pot is painted on a wheel using a damp sponge and commercial paints. While the clay is still soft, designs are incised through the paint layer into the pot. This type of etching is called Sgraffitto. Etched art is done on either red terracotta clay or white gypsum clay and after being fired in a kiln, the resulting design shows either the bright white (gypsum) or the red earth-colored (terracotta) background seen on the various pieces. Navajo pots have the most variety in etching and use symbols for mountains, rain, wings, arrows clouds, staircase of life or altar, prayer feathers, whirlwinds, plants, bear paw, corn, water, lightning, handprints, kachinas, animals, friendship and migration as well as many others. Their etching is beautifully done and each symbol is a prayer to the Great Spirit.
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