Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Jar by Santana Sanchez c.1930s

This Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Jar, dating to the 1930s, is a masterful example of early 20th-century pottery by Santana Sanchez. Measuring 10-½ inches in height and 11-¼ inches in diameter, this beautifully formed vessel showcases the exceptional craftsmanship of Acoma potters. The jar's thin, evenly constructed walls and expertly applied pigments highlight the skill and precision of its maker.

While unsigned, a nearly identical jar by Santana Sanchez (1907-1985) is documented in The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Dwight P. Lanmon and Francis H. Harlow (p. 491), confirming the attribution of both the artist's hand and the approximate date of creation. Santana Sanchez, listed in the 1907 pueblo census as a daughter of Santiago and Leuppe Tsieyounow, was a sister of the renowned potter Marie Z. Chino. As the mother and grandmother of several Acoma potters — and the great-great-grandmother of contemporary artist Shana Garcia Rustin-Sanchez belongs to one of Acoma's most celebrated pottery lineages.

The jar's intricate design reflects deeply rooted Acoma designs, featuring a striking central medallion with origins tracing back to the 1880s. This medallion consists of tiny dots enclosed within circles set inside squares, complemented by quartets of red C-shaped elements. Pueblo potters historically maintained family-based design traditions, reinforcing the idea that this medallion was possibly passed down through generations of Santana Sanchez's family. Interestingly, a similar medallion reappeared on a jar by Rachel Aragon in the early 1990s. While we do not have information that Aragon is directly related to Santana Sanchez, the presence of this medallion on her work provides a fascinating insight into how Pueblo pottery designs are passed down and reinterpreted by later generations.

At the shoulder, the vessel takes a bold, angular turn inward before gently reversing course, flowing seamlessly into a soft, circular curve up the neck. Santana Sanchez employed a striking combination of black and sienna pigments over a crisp white slip, enhancing the visual energy of the design. The central medallion, framed within a square, repeats twice around the body, creating a rhythmic balance. This bold focal point is complemented by multiple iterations of intricate checkerboard patterns, adding movement and depth to the composition. The design feels perfectly attuned to the form of the vessel, showcasing Sanchez's keen artistic sensibility and mastery of Acoma pottery traditions.

Condition: Rim cracks repaired and overpainted. Some light paint abrasions commensurate with age (see example image below).

Provenance: This Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Jar by Santana Sanchez c.1930s is from an estate of an Adobe Gallery client.

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Dwight P. Lanmon and Francis H. Harlow

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Marie Z. Chino, Shawna Garcia Rustin, Southwest Indian Pottery, Acoma Pueblo, Historic Pottery, Santana Sanchez