Description

This is an exquisite large jar deeply carved with clouds and mountains in beautiful symmetry. It is hand polished to a high gloss, which involves many hours of polishing with a traditional polishing stone (these stones are often handed down through a family).  There is a remarkable attention to the crisp carved lines in Jeff’s work, as well as an evenness to his stone polished surfaces.  These qualities reflect an artist who is a master potter and painstaking with the details of his work.

The carving is meticulously detailed with crisp lines.  The color variation between the polished areas of the mountains and the lower half of the jar with the unpolished areas of the mountains seems to give the appearance of two colors – gun metal gray and deep black. This is very hard to achieve in traditional pottery.

Jeff fires his pottery in a traditional wood burning fire. Although many pieces crack and break in the firing, and other potters have changed to kiln firing, Jeff says, “I will always fire traditionally.”

Jeff Roller is one of the most highly regarded artists today.  He is a sixth-generation potter in the Tafoya family from Santa Clara Pueblo in the Rio Grande River Valley of New Mexico, and is the son of award-winning potter, Toni Roller, and he is the grandson of famed potter, Margaret Tafoya.

Jeff Roller is known for both his incredible pottery and for his sculpting abilities. Jeff has won numerous awards at Santa Fe Indian Market and the Heard Indian Fair. His work– always traditional – continues to evolve with more complex forms and details. With each piece, Jeff continues to be a master potter and sculptor.

Condition: Excellent – original condition.
Provenance: Purchased from the artist.