Pot with Incised Decoration

Rose Williams, Pot with Incised Decoration, ca. 1992, fired and incised clay with piñon pitch, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.183
Copied Rose Williams, Pot with Incised Decoration, ca. 1992, fired and incised clay with piñon pitch, 15 3810 in. (39.125.4 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson, 1997.124.183

Artwork Details

Title
Pot with Incised Decoration
Date
ca. 1992
Dimensions
15 3810 in. (39.125.4 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Chuck and Jan Rosenak and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson
Mediums
Mediums Description
fired and incised clay with piñon pitch
Classifications
Keywords
  • Object — other — vase
Object Number
1997.124.183

Artwork Description

Rose Williams makes traditional Navajo pottery, with no decoration apart from a biyo---a small circle of design just below the rim. The break in the biyo represents "the way out" for the spirit, and Navajo potters consider it bad luck to close this circle. The dark, smoky patterns on the surface of this pot are known as "fire clouds," and appear when clay is fired in an outdoor pit.