Exquisite Zia Pueblo Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

Zia Pueblo has existed at the same location for over 700 years. It is located in a heavily volcanic area of Northern New Mexico, situated near Santa Ana Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo, and about 30 miles northwest of Albuquerque. The spelling of the pueblo's name originally was Tsia, but corrupted to Zia in the 20th century.

The potters of Zia have consistently produced outstanding vessels, made particularly strong by the use of crushed powdered lava for a tempering agent. They spent considerable effort in providing beautiful decoration executed in precise detail on the vessels made for their own use and those made for trade to the people of Jemez Pueblo for crops from the Jemez fields.

The quality of Zia pottery has never declined as it did at some of the other pueblos when commerce overtook Native uses. This jar, dating to circa 1900, is as beautiful and as strong and functional as a jar made a century earlier. The maker of this fine specimen is unknown. There are no known signed Zia pieces of pottery before 1920. Signing did not begin there until the 1960s.

The strong colors of the dark brown and brick red placed on the warm cream slip make the jar particularly strong and appealing. The design elements on the body and on the neck are the same except the colors are reversed.  The black beak-looking elements in the corners with circles represent birds. 

Condition:  there are a couple of hairline cracks that have been stabilized but there is no evidence of repair.

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

Provenance: from the collection of the John R. Elkins family of Aspen, Colorado