Description

Although later in her career, Rachel Medina combined the styles of Zia and Santa Ana, this is an early small hand coiled olla created in the red clay that is typical of Zia pottery. The red is highly polished by hand at the kiva steps and on the lower portion of the jar. The remaining sections of the olla are not highly polished. The primary design is a stylized bird- two of which are in flight and two which are standing on kiva steps.  The remaining geometric designs seem to be rain clouds and lightning. There is a black band around the neck of the jar.

Although Rachel Medina usually signs her pottery along the bottom band with her name and Santa Ana, this piece is signed on the bottom, which is further indication that it is one of her earlier pieces. Also on the bottom of this olla is the inscription “Rafael Medina’s daughter featured in Arizona Highways”. Rafael Medina was included in an article in the June 1977 edition of Arizona Highways. Rachel is the daughter of Sophia Pino Medina and the sister of Marcellus Medina.

Condition: Very Fine- very small nicks in the top band
Provenance: Purchased from a private collector in Arizona