Acoma Pueblo Historic Polychrome Water Jar, circa 1940

This exemplary OLLA, or water jar, dates to circa 1940, and is a superb example of the potter's art. As all traditional pottery of that period, this OLLA was formed of native clay with ground pottery shard temper, rag-wiped white slip, red neck interior, and red-slipped underbody with concave base, typical of Acoma pottery.

The vessel's distinctive shape, intricate design, and skilled craftsmanship are characteristic of this period. The artist's decision to utilize the entire surface for a unified artistic expression resulted in a visually stunning and cohesive piece.

The rim top and dual framing lines are worked in black paint from a mineral source, which is really dark brown, and are without ceremonial breaks. The fine-line and geometric/curvilinear elements are mineral black on rag-wiped white slip, with additional embellishments in typical orange.

The main elements of design incorporate dual-bird figures, each pair sharing a joint rectangular body. Above and below these dual-bird elements, are stylized bird heads, each with an eye. Artistically, the design on this OLLA is superb.

The painting is evidence of an outstanding potter. There are some abrasions of the painted area and a couple very small pockmarks. The integrity of the vessel is excellent.  The underside is signed Acoma, N.M. and with the initials HR in fired-on text and $2.50 in pencil.  We found one reference listing a potter with the initials HR relating to an Acoma potter. The listing is for Helen Romero of Acoma Pueblo. There is no information on the potter, only that she was born in 1980, so it is not likely that she was the maker of this jar with the initials HR.

Condition:  this Acoma Pueblo Historic Polychrome Water Jar, circa 1940 is in very good condition with minor surface abrasions

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Massachusetts, who provided us with the following:

“My aunt Bernice M. King received her Master's degree in music and anthropology at UNM in the late '30s. She created the first written notations for NM Pueblo music and choreography as her Master's thesis, and was well known by many pueblo "notables." Afterward, she worked at the Minneapolis Museum of Art in the '40s and was recruited by Dr. Inverarity as his co-director of the Museum of International Folk Art, and was a confidant of Mrs. Bartlett. While living in Santa Fe, she rented quarters in the small Canyon Road compound owned by a Mrs. Cassidy, whom I am reasonably sure was the widow of the artist Gerald Cassidy. I grew up in Belen, and as a youngster (aged 8-10) I spent several summers in Santa Fe staying with my aunt and accompanied her on many of her visits to the pueblos and assisted her with tape recordings while she drew the dances. To the best of my knowledge, she was the only outsider with the approval of elders to record, photograph or document ceremonials. I don't specifically recall the purchase of any pottery, but do know that she would almost certainly have purchased them directly from the potters.”

Recommended Reading:

Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Dwight P. Lanmon and Francis H. Harlow, 2013. Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2000 Artist Biographies, Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Acoma Pueblo, Historic Pottery