Historic Ohkay Owingeh Black Storage Jar [SOLD]

Storage jars were an important asset in the home of the pueblo people.  There generally were no cabinets, trunks or other storage facilities available in those homes, so pottery served that purpose.  Dried foods, grains, corn and even personal belongings are known to have been stored for safe keeping from rodents or inquisitive eyes.

The potters of northern New Mexico all made storage jars but it appears that San Juan Pueblo (now Ohkay Owingeh) made them without change or outside influence as they had made them for hundreds of years.  The arrival of the Spaniards and, later, the passenger train to the area resulted in influence on pottery of most pueblos, but not at San Juan.  It is for this reason that it is difficult to approximate a date on pottery from there but it is known that most of their available traditional pottery pre-dates 1900 as there were few potters remaining after that time.

Ohkay Owingeh potters stuck to their original pottery traditions of simple undecorated utilitarian wares that were so beautiful in vessel shape and simple slipped surfaces highlighted by fire clouds.  Even today, a hundred years after the pueblo abandoned its traditional style for a more modern style to appeal to tourists and collectors, the beautiful undecorated wares of the pueblo are still capturing the eyes of collectors.

This magnificent black storage jar represents the traditional style of the pueblo.  The upper half received a slip of deep red over the natural tan color of the clay body.  The red slip and the un-slipped lower half were then stone polished to a traditional burnish.  The interior of the jar was stone polished as well.  The jar was then fired in a reduction firing that resulted in a polished black upper body over a gray polished lower body.  Beautiful fire clouds resulted from the outdoor firing.  The jar dates to the last quarter of the 19^th century, probably close to 1875-1880.

Now, the significant importance of this jar over other storage jars of similar style is that this one shows extensive use and love by its owner.  A rim crack developed at one place and a leather strap was securely tied around the neck to prevent the crack from expanding so that the jar could continue to be used. Also, something caused a section of the rim to break off and the owner lovingly applied wet adobe mud to the surface to protect the rim from further damage.  It appears that every effort was made to keep the jar in use, but, at some point in its life, it entered the commercial market and now is available to be added to one’s collection.  Jars such as this are not readily available and ones with such Native repair are even rarer.  They tell a silent story that unused jars fail to deliver.  Pottery made for use and used by the maker carry an untold history that adds immeasurably to the beauty of the vessel. 

Condition: very good condition with Native repairs

Provenance: from the collection of a Colorado family

Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 by Jonathan Batkin