Acoma Pueblo Very Large Pottery Owl Figurine [SOLD]

The owl has numerous meanings among Native American cultures. To some, like the Navajo, it symbolizes death and endings. It can often be associated with bad omens or warnings. On the other hand, many view the owl as a symbol of wisdom, magic, foresight, and protection. To many pueblo Indians, the latter is more aligned with their view of the owl. The owl has a mostly positive and sacred meaning to members of Acoma Pueblo, and is looked at as a messenger between the living and the dead.

Celebrated across various forms of pueblo folk art, the owl is perhaps most commonly depicted in a pottery form, shaped and ordained as itself by the use of clay. This is a very large owl formed by Acoma Pueblo potter Eva Histia, measuring at an impressive 13-½" tall. While Histia was known for creating pieces like this, this one is certainly the largest we've seen by her.

The owl is also quite fat, and has a rather endearing look. His face is dignified and gracious, and his stance is quite poised. He has big, brown eyes with orange, crescent moon shaped slits, surrounded by orange circles. His beak and feet are orange as well. The rest of the protruding body of this owl figurine is painted black and white, with detailed feathers around the body and on his wings. Underneath the nose there is a hole to allow for safe firing of the figurine.

The bottom of the owl is signed E. Histia, Acoma, N. Mex.

Eva Histia (1914 - 2005) was a member of the Roadrunner Clan at Acoma Pueblo. Eva Histia is the daughter of Helice Vallo; mother of Hilda Antonio, Rose Torivio and Ida Ortiz; grandmother of Mary J. Garcia and Lavine Torivio. Eva was an active potter as early as 1922. She was still an active potter as late as 1991 and perhaps later.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Acoma Pueblo Very Large Pottery Owl Figurine is from a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: PUEBLO POTTERY FIGURINES The expression of Cultural Perceptions in Clay by Patricia Fogelman Lange

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo Pottery Figurines, Eva Histia