Cochiti Pueblo Historic Pottery Duck Figurine [SOLD]

The 19th century was one that must have seemed overwhelming for New Mexico’s Pueblo Indians. The Santa Fe Trail from Missouri to Santa Fe opened in 1821 bringing traders and trade materials unfamiliar to the Natives. At that time, New Mexico was part of Mexico. It was not until 1848 that it became a part of the United States. As a part of Mexico, the Natives were inundated with former Spaniards traveling the Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe, again bringing in trade goods of unfamiliar properties.

As a territory of the United States, the Natives found that rules and regulations, under which they were controlled, switched first from the King of Spain, then to the Mexican government and finally to the government of the United States. Following all these changes came another one—the arrival of the train in 1880.

The potters at Cochiti Pueblo reacted to these invasions in a most intriguing manner. From about 1870 to 1920, they made pottery figurines, some in mockery of the new invaders and others of animals. birds and other objects.  These latter ones were most popular with Santa Fe merchants who were in need of small items of Native manufacture to sell to the many visiting tourists to Santa Fe.

This duck is typical of many small items made for the trade market.  We have classified it as a duck but maybe it is a bird of another nature.  It appears to have been made in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading:  A River Apart—the Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos by Valerie Verzuh, et al.