Acoma Pueblo Olla with Parrots and Rainbow [SOLD]

Pueblo pottery had not shown any strong design influence from non-indigenous sources until the nineteenth century. It was in the mid-1800s that changes in designs became noticeable. It has been stated that some of the ornate designs on Acoma pottery—such as the parrot, rainbow, and berries—might have been influenced from Pennsylvania Dutch designs that the pueblo inhabitants could have seen on fabrics or furniture of Pennsylvania Dutch origin. These designs reached their maturity by the end of the 1800s and have been in continuous use since.

Birds on pueblo pottery have been popular since prehistoric times. Their representation in the earlier times was more abstract than representational. They reached their peak with Sikyatki Polychrome from the Hopi in the period 1375 to 1650. The representational parrot design seen on Acoma pottery such as this jar has stayed essentially the same since its inception in the mid-1800s. The bird is often perched on a branch and eating berries. It has a curved beak typical of parrots. Quite often there is a design—circular or diamond—on the breast of the bird and a D-shaped element at the base of the tail.

This is an exceptionally fine example of an Acoma Pueblo polychrome olla of this style.  It probably dates from the first third of the 20th century. It was formed in native clay with ground pottery shard temper and exhibits a rag-wiped white slip, orange neck interior, and orange-slipped underbody with concave base, typical of Acoma pottery. The high point of maximum diameter, design elements, execution and a shorter neck are indicative of vessels of this time period.

The artist used the full field to express the single artistic concept rather than divide the design area into sections. The design features large, bold whimsical parrots over and under an undulating rainbow. Each parrot is perched onto a plant stem as if eating berries from the plant. The parrots each have a diamond on its breast and a D-shaped element at its tail.  The rim top is black and the framing lines are worked in vegetal black.

This design is the most sought after in Acoma ceramics. It is the style every collector cherishes.

Condition:  the jar is in very good condition.  Examination with UV light does not show any repairs or restoration or paint touch-up.  Everything is original.  There is minor rim wear from prior use but it is not significant. Overall, it is a real fine jar.

Provenance:  from the collection of a New Mexico family

Recommended Reading:  Acoma and Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham