Polychrome Tesuque Pueblo Pitcher, circa 1890s [SOLD]

Occasionally we encounter pottery which is not traditional in shape to a familiar pueblo vessel, yet construction of the vessel appears in every way traditional to the pueblo. This is the case with this pitcher. Temper, paste, stone-polished slip and black paint identify the origin as Tesuque. The footed bottom, pouring spout, and handle appear to be fashioned after a china pitcher of the time period.

Santa Fe merchant Jake Gold was very influential on the ceramics at Tesuque. He advertised his specialization as pottery and therefore needed a large supply of it. Tesuque was the closest pueblo and so it was easier for him to fulfill his needs there. Selling to tourists and to Spanish-American homes in Santa Fe required vessel shapes familiar to those clients. Thus, an explanation for flower-pot shapes, pitchers, and other handled vessels, as seen in an 1880 Ben Wittick photo of Gold with a large collection of mostly Tesuque pottery.

A major black design that could be floral is the featured design element on the front of the pitcher. Corn plants could be the intent on the two designs on the body flanking the handle. Double framing lines surround the lip and frame the bottom of the cream slip. A red band wiped on underneath the cream slip and a red rim qualify the pitcher for a Polychrome status.

The pitcher is footed, as are many Tesuque pottery vessel of this time period. The underbody is stone polished and unslipped natural clay.

Condition: The exterior of the pitcher is in marvelous condition even though it appears from the inside that the pitcher may have been used for quite some time. No spalling or defacement of the exterior slip occurred as a result of use.