Micaceous Jar

Lonnie Vigil’s work is often described as bridging past and present. He uses hand-built techniques and firing methods practiced by Pueblo peoples for hundreds of years, yet his innovative forms reflect awareness of world ceramic and sculptural traditions. Vigil is singularly credited with reviving unpainted, micaceous pottery and establishing its credibility as a contemporary art form. Micaceous clay is so rich in the mineral mica that the addition of temper—the material added to the clay to prevent shrinking and cracking during drying and firing&mdashis not required. Mica’s tiny gold-colored flakes impart a softly glowing, subtly textured surface to the finished ceramic. Historically, potters from the northern New Mexico Pueblos are recognized as masters of pure form, a tradition readily visible in this monumental jar.