Acoma Black-on-white Mimbres Design Jar [SOLD]

Lucy M. Lewis continued throughout her life to make pottery in the traditional way; digging and preparing clay, grinding potshards for temper; coiling the clay into a vessel shape, making her paints from plant and mineral elements, and firing the finished vessels in an open outdoor handmade kiln.

This jar conforms to all traditions of Acoma pottery. There is no spalling of the clay body, which is an indication that the jar was probably made in the 1960s when Acoma clay beds were purer than later when there was evidence of calcium.

This lovely small jar is well balanced and symmetrical, beautifully polished to a warm velvety finish and painted in a simple and carefully executed design of flute players in the Mimbres style.  There have been no repairs or restoration. It is signed with the artist's name on the underside.

Condition: excellent condition. There is some museum clay on the underside, of the type most often used by Californians to secure pottery against earth quake tremors.  It is removable.

Recommended Reading: Lucy M. Lewis: American Indian Potter by Susan Peterson