Acoma Pueblo Polychrome OLLA by Mary Torivio

Mary Torivio of Acoma Pueblo made this polychrome OLLA, or water jar. Torivio made ample use of a beautiful orange pigment, filling in repeating pairs of rectangular forms as well as coloring the base and part of the interior. The orange rectangle pairs alternate with blocks of white, within which pairs of black curved triangles appear. The vessel itself is well-balanced and visually appealing.

In Gregory Schaaf's Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies, an identically designed OLLA appears. It is attributed to Mary's mother Marie Torivio, which initially led us to believe that this pot was by Marie. However, the book notes that the signature that appears here—M. Torivio—was used by Mary. Secondly, this olla seems like a more recent work, so we are attributing it to Mary and assuming that she chose to replicate a design her mother used.

The bottom of the jar is signed M. Torivio, Acoma N.M.

Acoma Pueblo artist Mary Torivio (1945- ) became active as a potter around 1985, making traditional polychrome Acoma wares. She was taught by her mother, Marie C. Torivio, who was actively potting from the 1940s to the 1990s.

Condition: good condition, a few minor areas of spalling

Provenance: this Acoma Pueblo Polychrome OLLA by Mary Torivio is from a private collection of a gallery client

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo Pottery, Marie Torivio, Mary Torivio