Large Polychrome Laguna Jar, circa 1890s [SOLD]

Several years ago, a jar almost identical to this one was documented as having been made by the man-woman Laguna Pueblo potter Arroh-a-och (c1830s-c1900). That jar is now in a private collection. According to Lanmon, there is only one documented example of an Arroh-a-och jar known to exist, and that is in the collection of the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe. Based on design elements on that jar, other jars have been attributed to Arroh-a-och.

Arroh-a-och apparently lived at Laguna Pueblo in the last quarter of the 19th century, according to official U. S. Census Reports. There is confusion as to whether he was originally from Zuni Pueblo or Laguna. It is likely that he was originally from Laguna and had visited Zuni.

The one documented example of his work is decorated in the style of Zuni pottery, which has probably led to the confusion of his origin. According to Ruth Bunzel, however, Zuni pottery was well appreciated by the potters of Acoma and Laguna, and many examples of Zuni designs were used on Laguna pottery.

The Zuni designs on this jar include the Rainbird elements surrounding the neck and the dark brown underbody of the vessel. Both these items regularly appear on Zuni pottery. The small orange berries on the neck design of this jar are frequently seen on Laguna pottery, leading one to speculate as to whether Arroh-a-och made this jar or not.

This jar does not contain any of the design elements on the one documented Arroh-a-och jar at SAR but does contain elements of other jars that have been attributed to this potter. Because it cannot be compared directly to the one example at SAR, some scholars would not authenticate it as an Arroh-a-och jar, but because it contains similarities to other jars attributed to this potter, other scholars would attribute it to Arroh-a-och.

The dilemma now is in the hands of the collector. Is it or is it not? That is to be determined by the purchaser. I do not consider myself an expert on the pottery of Arroh-a-och so I cannot provide documentation as such. If this is an example by him, then it is the bargain of the decade, because it is priced at a price to reflect the value of an exceptional Laguna jar by an unknown potter.

CONDITION: Overall the jar is in excellent condition. There are a couple rim chips which are visible in the photographs provided, and there is a hairline crack going vertical from the rim down to the shoulder. This can be stabilized to insure no further expansion of the crack.

REFERENCE: Lanmon, Dwight. "Pueblo Man-Woman potters and the pottery made by the Laguna Man-Woman Arroh-a-och." American Indian Art Magazne, Volume 31, Number 1, Winter 2005. (Available from the publisher.)