Artist: Tony Lorenzo
Tribe: Zuni
Dimensions: 4 ¾ x 3 ½
Tony Lorenzo is an award-winning Zuni potter who creates bold pieces featuring animals and insects.
Zuni potters are known for their traditional pieces as well as their fine line work and geometric patterns.
To create a pot, typically, the Zuni find their clay directly on the Pueblo where they live. They then mix either mica or another mineral into the clay or use crushed up shards of older pottery to process the clay. It is then dried and wrapped for storage. Pieces are crafted using the coil and scrape methodology and then polished using traditional polishing stones. Finally, the pieces are fired and that would have been outdoors using a variety of methods.
This beautiful butterfly jug is a great example of a Tony Lorenzo piece. Both sides are delicately and whimsically painted using the characteristic Zuni fine line technique. The overall texture of the piece is reminiscent of a desert scene.
