(Loretta) Sunday Chavarria is known for producing fine carved blackware pottery in the style of the Santa Clara Pueblo. This piece boasts a mirrorlike polished surface that has been carved with traditional designs featuring an Avanyu, the water monster, in low relief. She handbuilt this using coils of local clay that she carved while it was pliable. She polished the outer surfaces to a sheen using a stone, as her ancestors did. This was pit fired outside with a second smoked firing to darken the surface & produce the rich dark black tone. Lower areas in the relief were not polished & present as a dark grey in contrast with the shiny black areas of the design. This is signed Sunday Chavarria, Santa Clara on the base. It measures approx 2.75" H x 3.75" W x 3.75" D. This is a beautiful object that would look wonderful in any collection of southwest art!