Polychrome Acoma Pueblo Jar with Zuni Style Birds [SOLD]

This is an exceptionally fine Acoma Pueblo polychrome olla, dating from circa 1940. Formed in native clay with ground pottery shard temper, this vessel exhibits a rag-wiped white slip, red neck interior, and red-slipped underbody with concave base, typical of Acoma pottery. The high point of maximum diameter, design elements, execution and a shorter neck are indicative of vessels created after 1900.

The artist chose to divide the design field into distinct areas by creating three oval designs, separated by black-on-white triangular shaped fine line elements representing rain.

The rim top and framing lines are worked in mineral black, which is really dark brown, and are without ceremonial breaks. The geometric/curvilinear and fine line elements are mineral black on rag-wiped white slip, with additional embellishments in typical orange. There are three marvelous fluid birds in each oval. Their style definitely evokes a feeling of flight.