Extraordinary Acoma Olla with Parrots and Checkerboard Design [SOLD]

According to H. P. Mera in his publication The “Rain Bird” a Study in Pueblo Design, published in 1937, a design identified at the “Rain Bird” had its beginnings in prehistoric pottery in a rudimentary style but was refined by the Zuni potters in the mid-1500s.  From Zuni, the design spread to other pueblos, each of which made modifications but left it still recognizable as having started out as an element of the “Rain Bird” design.

This Acoma olla is a good example of such.  When the black curved elements above the orange checkerboard design are examined closely, one sees the curved beak of the bird and the crown of the bird represented by the black triangle and fine-line stepped elements.  The design is again repeated perched above the orange rainbow.  As Mera stated “Though the ‘Rain Bird’ motif was soon adopted, there seems to have been no attempt merely to copy but on the contrary, it appears that from the beginning only the idea was taken, to be then translated into Acoman terms.”

The other main design element is that of the Acoma parrot, seen for decades on polychrome jars by Acoma potters.  The parrots on this jar are orange but not outlined in black as so often done.  Each of the parrots has a black beak and black legs and each is perched on a plant stem. 

The Southwest Indian Pottery jar appears to date to the early 20^th century and evidences prior use as a water jar.  It is a pleasing shape with a high shoulder and excellent design layout.

Condition: very good condition with evidence of use as a water jar

Reference: The “Rain Bird” A Study in Pueblo Design by H. P. Mera.  Memoirs of the Laboratory of Anthropology, Volume II, Santa Fe, New Mexico 1937

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post, located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and which was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose other name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.