Nancy Youngblood Small Black Ribbed Melon Jar

Nancy Youngblood of Santa Clara Pueblo has mastered the art of a highly polished ribbed melon jar vessel shape. The 32 ribs of this jar are consistently the same width and same depth. Each rib is highly burnished from the edge down both sides, leaving the deepest valley in the matte state. Each rib of the jar starts at the rim in a very thin form, expands and widens at the mid body, continuing down to the base of the jar where each rib is very thin. Such consistent control of the process of forming the ribs is a feat of patience and experience. The jar is signed Nancy Youngblood 1982.

Nancy Youngblood (1955- ) Yellow Aspen is the granddaughter of Margaret Tafoya and daughter of Mela Youngblood. She is a master crafts person and certainly one of the most famous modern potters of today. Nancy is known for her patience in making the most precise and perfect pottery. She spares no effort in producing the perfect pot. For more information on her, check the more detailed biography on our website by clicking on her name above.

Condition: the jar is in original condition with the exception of a very minor abrasion on one rib, visible with magnification only.

Provenance: this Nancy Youngblood Small Black Ribbed Melon Jar is from the estate of the client to whom we sold this in 2013.

Recommended Reading: Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Margaret Tafoya, Mela Youngblood, pottery, Santa Clara Pueblo, pottery, Nancy Youngblood