San Ildefonso Polychrome Jar with Birds [R]

This impressive jar is a truly fine example of turn-of-the-century San Ildefonso Polychrome, created circa 1910. This vessel displays the typical tan Tewa paste with volcanic ash and white stone fragments as temper. The traditional features of San Ildefonso Polychrome are present, with a black rim replacing the pre-1900 red rim top. A narrow red band at the top of the stone-polished bare paste underbody is clearly visible.

The Cochiti rag-wiped white slip, adopted about 1905, sets off the vegetal black design motifs. The jar is Tewa in form, with an aggressive swell at mid-body and flared rim. Paired framing lines just below the rim, at the shoulder, and just above the red band at the top of the underbody define the borders of the design areas. A series of leaf abstractions decorate the neck.

Between the framing lines at the shoulder and the ones above the red band are a series of red arrowhead-shaped elements, outlined in black, from which sprout black triangular elements as if being spewed out of the red element. Interspersed between these design elements are quite humorous birds apparently in flight.

This is a beautiful vessel with lovely motif, style, and form and with excellent patina and subtle crazing. The jar had a lateral crack on an area of the neck that has apparently been stabilized but is still visible. A section of the rim is missing directly above the lateral crack. There is no other visible or apparent damage.