Navajo Hand-Etched Terracotta Seed Pot by Ben Billy

This seed pot lets the clay do the talking. Ben Billy works in terracotta here, finishing the surface in a deep mahogany overglaze polished to a soft sheen. The result is a warm, earthy piece where the lighter orange of the hand-etched designs pops against the dark background. No horsehair, no gradient. Just the carving.

The form is the classic squat seed pot, wide and low at 3.68 inches tall and 4.39 inches across. Fine-line vertical motifs cover the upper shoulders, a staircase pattern runs through the center band, and a continuous wave or serpent line circles the lower section. Each line carved by hand with a small stylus. Signed "BL Navajo" on the bottom.

• Artist: Ben Billy (Navajo)
• Technique: Hand-etched Sgraffito with polished mahogany finish (no horsehair)
• Dimensions: 3.68" H x 4.39" W
• Weight: Approximately 8 oz
• Signature: Hand-signed "BL Navajo" on the base

Handle with clean, dry hands. Avoid moisture and abrasive cleaners. Display away from direct sunlight to preserve the glaze tones.

Ben Billy is a Navajo artist known for his precise Sgraffito etching technique, creating pieces that blend traditional symbolism with contemporary form.