Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handpainted Bowl with Avanyu

Description

Native American Santa Clara Handbuilt and Handpainted Bowl with Avanyu by Earlene Youngbird Tafoya

Wonderful handbuilt and painted bowl by Santa Clara potter Earlene Youngbird Tafoya (1947-2000). This is a beautifully polished and painted pot by with the water serpent (Avanyu) encircling the top of the piece. Avanyu symbolizes not only the importance of water in the desert cultures but also pays tribute to the water serpent who saved the people when their land flooded. The serpent came up to the mesa where they were starving and regurgitated all of the seeds they would need to replant their crops and feed themselves.