Respected Santa Clara potter Eric Tafoya (1969-) created this miniature sgraffito seedpot featuring two hummingbirds with florals & a starburst or flower on the top. He handbuilt this of native clay gathered from the land & prepared by hand. The surface of the pot was polished to a high gloss & pit fired outside. A second firing with smoke darkens the surface.  His colors range from a surprising deep red to sienna brown into black; it takes a lot of technical prowesss to get this palette, which involves protecting the reddish areas during the smoking process. He also utilizes a hand held torch to selectively darken tiny areas on his pottery. After firing, the carving reveals layers of different colors by scratching through the surface, rather like drawing or etching.  The base is signed Eric Tafoya, Santa Clara Pueblo. This measures approx 2.5" H x  3" W x 3" D. This is a beautiful iconic example of his work that would look fantastic in any collection!