Acoma Pueblo Twentieth Century Water Jar [SOLD]

This is a strikingly beautiful Acoma Pueblo polychrome water jar with a high shoulder decorated in black-on-white designs and devoid of red except for the underbody. The intricate Tularosa-style design is a series of curvilinear, rectilinear, and fine-line elements combined in an Escher-like manner that is as contemporary as any design and yet reflects its roots of a thousand years ago.

This jar is unquestionably the work of Mary Histia (1893/1895-1973).  It is signed on the bottom simply:  Acoma Sky City, NM. 1955. The fineness of the application of paint and the overall layout of the design are characteristics used to attribute this as having been made by Mary Histia.

Histia deserves to be classed as a Modernist artist. Her art is old, yet alive and dynamic—an expression of a continuing vigor. She did not confine her art to a mere repetition of her previous work, nor did she resort to meaningless geometric designs. Instead she continually experimented and added to her repertoire. Her designs are at once classic and modern. The Tularosa-style designs were a favorite of hers although she produced innumerable other designs.

Condition: original condition.  There is a fire cloud in one area of the design.

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon

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 other 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.