Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Globular Jar [SOLD]

Emma Lewis Mitchell of Acoma Pueblo told Rick Dillingham that individual signatures on Acoma pottery began to appear around 1950.  Other potters have stated slightly earlier dates.  It has generally been accepted that signatures began appearing with the influx of tourists following the end of World War II.  So, mid-1940s to late 1940s seems to be an acceptable date for the appearance of signed pottery.

This jar is not signed, even with the pueblo name.  We feel it dates to the 1950s and is just probably one that never got signed.  Every pottery did not begin to sign pottery at the same time.  Surely it took years, maybe even a decade, before it became a general practice.

This jar has a wonderful vessel shape—almost globular with no neck delineation.  The potter took advantage of the shape and painted the design all the way to the rim.  The design is a combination of black fine lines, orange feathers, black curved bird beaks and rain symbols.  Application of the painted design was absolutely the work of a talented artisan.  Each line was laid on to perfection.

Condition: very good condition and with a beautiful ring, indicating a good firing temperature

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post which was located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.

Reference: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham