“This is a powerful, wise being” Rachel told me when speaking of this bowl. The design was modeled after an ancient Jeddito design; Steve Elmore sent Rachel an image of the ancient bowl. Such designs remind Rachel of her Mother, she told me: “My Mom and I used to discuss these powerful creature designs you find on the old pots,” Rachel said. “Mom used to say ‘I wonder if these creatures were real then or only visited people in dreams.’”

It is dangerous for a modern Behana to assume the meanings of such designs, but to me the contemplative face, bent arm with an outstretched hand, and the curvilinear “tail” ending with a pathos design are all blessing images. The stepped notch on the top edge of the wing element (perhaps representing rain clouds) reinforces the kind energy of this being.

Given that it was fired in cold weather, the clay color is pale except for one area where the wind made the fire hotter and blushed the pot.

Purchase History:
Rachel called me on April 21 to say that she had some pots finished and ask if I would be interested in any of them. A couple of days later she sent me paper photographs of four pots and I agreed to buy this one.

I sent Rachel postal money orders on 4/28/10; she mailed me the pot on April 30. On May 3, the package containing the money orders to pay of the bowl was misdirected to The DDS Express Co. in Mount Vernon, IL, for some strange reason. I then deposited the cost directly into Rachel’s bank account and (by agreement) she cashed the original payment when she finally received the package. The extra payment became the cost of 2010-12. Given the winged nature of the design on 2010-09, I suppose I should not be surprised the original payment flew freely around the country.

[Correspondence, letter, and receipt on file]