Acoma Polychrome Jar with Straight-Beaked Birds [SOLD]

James Stevenson collected jars at Acoma, for the Smithsonian, before 1880 with birds with straight beaks such as those on this jar, indicating that they existed as early as the 1870s.  We think of birds on Acoma jars as always being represented as parrots, but birds of this style were also painted, although certainly not as frequently.

The birds on this Acoma jar have slim bodies and elaborate tail feathers.  They are not outlined in black except for the head.  They have fat thighs and short skinny legs whose feet are attached to plants.  The black circular eyes on all four birds are covered with orange paint almost to the point of obliteration.  

Each bird is enclosed in a diamond box with the plant on which it stands.  The upper triangles near the rim, resulting from the diamonds which are connected, are decorated with cloud-like symbols filled with parallel fine lines which may represent rain.  The triangle on the lower body houses kiva-step elements consisting of filled in red color outlined by black line drawings of another pair of kiva steps. 

Condition: there is evidence of a former hairline crack that has been filled in with glue so the jar is very stable and has a high-pitch ring.  There is some darkness of the orange color, and minor blistering in the same area, indicating that the jar got too hot on one side in the firing process.  It has not diminished the beauty of the jar.  It is an early jar from the late 1800s with birds not often seen on such.

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

Provenance: from the extensive collection of pottery of a Santa Fe resident.