Isleta Polychrome Pictorial Design Child’s Water Jar [SOLD]

Around 1879, a group of Laguna families, who had split from their native village, settled at Isleta Pueblo in a village they named Oraibi. It was the Laguna potters who introduced Polychrome pottery to Isleta, eventually replacing the traditional Isleta Red-on-tan pottery. These Polychrome wares eventually became associated with Isleta Pueblo as the traditional pottery of the pueblo.

Small ollas, such as this child's water jar, were made in large quantities and taken into Albuquerque every day where they were sold to the passengers on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe train traveling between Chicago and Los Angeles.

This jar, however, is well above the quality of most tourist pieces sold at the train station. The formation of the jar is excellent and the painting is extraordinary. The inclusion of birds in the design is rare. The jar is in excellent condition.