Polychrome Zia Olla with Birds and Rainbows [SOLD]

Zia Pueblo has existed at the same location for over 700 years. It is located in a heavily volcanic area of Northern New Mexico, situated near Santa Ana Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, and about 30 miles northwest of Albuquerque. The spelling of the pueblo’s name originally was Tsia, but corrupted to Zia in the 20th century.

The potters of Zia have consistently produced outstanding vessels, made particularly strong by the use of crushed powered lava for a tempering agent. They spent considerable effort in providing beautiful decoration executed in precise detail on the vessels made for their own use and those made for trade to the people of Jemez Pueblo for crops from the Jemez fields.

The quality of Zia pottery has never declined as it did at some of the other pueblos when commerce overtook native uses. This jar, dating to the 1920s or 1930s, is as beautiful and as strong and functional as a jar made a century earlier. The maker of this fine specimen is unknown. There are no known signed Zia pieces of pottery before 1920. Signing did not begin there until the 1960s.

The design features three Zia birds, each under a rainbow arc, all executed in red slip outlined in black mineral paint, backed by a beautifully warm light orange slip. The jar is in excellent condition, with only a few minor scratches of no significance. It truly is a beautiful jar.