Native American Navajo Red Clay Pot--Large Vase with Horses and Cowboy by Emerson Gray This large vase with its beautiful etching is a great example of Navajo red clay etched pottery. This particular piece has horses running around the middle of the pot as well as the neck. There is also a cowboy on the neck with rope in hand trying to catch one of those wild horses. This pot is glazed inside and can hold liquid. The air-dried ceramic clay pot is painted on a wheel using a damp sponge and commercial paints. While the clay is still soft, designs are incised through the paint layer into the pot. This type of etching is called Sgraffitto. Etched art is done on either red terracotta clay or white gypsum clay and after being fired in a kiln, the resulting design shows either the bright white (gypsum) or the red earth-colored (terracotta) background seen on the various pieces. Navajo pots have the most variety in etching and use symbols for mountains, rain, wings, arrows clouds, staircase of life or altar, prayer feathers, whirlwinds, plants, bear paw, corn, water, lightning, handprints, kachinas, animals, friendship and migration as well as many others. Their etching is beautifully done and each symbol is a prayer to the Great Spirit.
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