Navajo Hand-Etched Horsehair Pottery Tapered Blue Vase by Ben Billy

Most of Ben Billy's palette runs warm, so this tapered vase stands apart. The dominant color here is blue, moving from cerulean at the shoulder down through cobalt and into bands of midnight black, with just a touch of ochre and sunset red near the base to anchor it to the earth. The cool tones give the piece a quieter, more contemplative presence than others in the collection.

Vertical feather and mountain motifs are hand-etched in tight sgraffito lines around the full body of the vase, drawing the eye upward along the tapered form. Horsehair was applied during firing, leaving dark carbon veins that cut across the blue in unpredictable paths. At 11 oz the piece has real solidity to it. Signed on the base as BL Navajo.

• Artist: Ben Billy (Navajo)
• Dimensions: 4.07" H x 3.89" W
• Weight: Approx. 11 oz
• Technique: Hand-etched sgraffito with horsehair firing
• Materials: Natural clay, mineral pigments

Display away from direct sunlight to preserve the mineral pigments. Handle with dry hands and keep away from moisture.

Ben Billy is a Navajo potter recognized for his sgraffito etching and horsehair firing work. This blue vase is among the more distinctive pieces in his collection, departing from his typical warm palette while maintaining the same precision and craftsmanship.