Zuni Polychrome Olla with Rain Bird Designs [SOLD]

This is a venerable, aged olla from the decade following 1880. This excellent piece is superb in form, execution of design, and fantastic visual history and patina. It displays the wear of decades of use-rim wear from incessant drawing of water from the vessel's interior and spillage on the rim, semi-gloss paint from countless daily contact with the human hand, and nicks, blemishes, pits, scratches, and stains of everyday wear.

One may indeed choose to live with, or at least pursue the perfect piece; that type specimen with no evidence of human hand, but why? The visual history of these objects tells much more, of a time, place, a people and culture, and by our response, perhaps something of us.

This pottery vessel is Zuni in all respects, from the paste material, construction, and design elements. The rain bird design here depicted is ceremonial in origin, and the specific form, which was repeated by Zuni potters ad infinitum, dates to the late nineteenth century, with antecedents some two centuries previous. This is a piece for the collector who appreciates history as well as beauty.

Provenance: From the collection of Alexander E. Anthony, Jr. who purchased it from Mary Mira of Kansas City in 2003. She, in turn, had purchased it in 1972 from Frank Dunn, a California dealer. This is the first time it has been offered on the open market in over 35 years.

Condition: good condition

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon