Small Historic Zuni Pueblo Heartline Jar with Fawn and Bats

This Zuni Pueblo OLLA, or water jar, dating from the early 1900s, showcases a beautifully defined rim that gracefully curls outward, adding an elegant flair to the piece. Notably, the jar remains free of cracks, preserving its structural integrity over time.  The neck of the jar originally featured a bat motif, though wear has removed about half of this design, hinting at the jar's age and use. At the shoulder, the jar displays prominent panels of the "Deer-in-Feather-House" design, a traditional Zuni Pueblo pottery motif. What sets this piece apart is the depiction of spotted, antlerless deer—clearly fawns with their distinctive spots, a natural camouflage.

Separating the main design panels are bold vertical stepped key patterns, remarkable for their deliberate spotted elements. These additional spots may echo the fawn motif, enhancing the visual cohesion and rarity of the design. This vessel measures 8-⅜ inches in height and 9-⅞ inches in width.

The jar also features a distinct puki line, a hallmark of earlier ollas, offering a glimpse into the traditional techniques used in its creation. In later periods, this line would have been smoothed away, making its presence here a testament to the jar's early origins.

What is a Heartline?

Condition: good condition with wear appropriate for its age. There are a few small areas of overpaint near the fawn motifs in the slip areas.

Provenance: this Small Historic Zuni Pueblo Heartline Jar with Fawn and Bats is from the collection of a gentleman from New Mexico

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo by Dwight P. Lanmon and Francis H. Harlow

TAGS: puki depression, pottery, Zuni Pueblo, old pottery