Very Large Kiua Polychrome Storage Jar [R]

A date falling between 1860 and 1880 has been assigned to this very large storage jar. It has an origin of Cochiti Pueblo.

The jar has a black rim with a red rag-wiped band in the interior of the jar. There are pairs of framing lines at the neck of the jar and below the bentonite slipped decorated area. All the framing lines feature the traditional ceremonial line break. The lower framing line at the neck is presented as clouds rather than as a single black line.

A wide red band was wiped over the unslipped stone-polished underbody. Although the jar shape would suggest a 1880s date, the simplicity of design suggests a date closer to 1860s.

The jar has an interesting provenance and history. It was obtained from the 90-year-old son of the gentleman who collected it originally in 1926. The son has requested that we release his and his dad's names only to the eventual buyer of the jar. We will honor this request.

The original owner operated a trading post in Colorado. It was there that he met and worked with Edward S. Curtis, the famous photographer. Curtis introduced him to the gold-tone and tinting processes used in photography of the day. Curtis' student used those processes on his many photographs taken of the eastern United States and Florida and he is now considered by historians to be an under-recognized historical photographer of those areas for those times.

He had Indian trading posts in Wisconsin, Maine, Georgia and several in Florida. His Indian museum, called "Ancient America," and another called "The Indian Museum and Trading Post" both were in Florida. The latter one closed as recent as 1980. This jar has been in the latter museum for the last 50 years, according to the previous owner's son.

The jar is in excellent condition considering its age. It is an impressive piece of early Cochiti Pueblo history and we are fortunate in this day to have the opportunity to own it even for a short time. Jars of this nature are mostly in museum collections now so it is particularly appreciated that this one has been preserved and is now available for another collector to assume the task of protecting it from loss. Lucky is the one who is fortunate to be the next owner.