Special Value Offer: Historic Zia Pueblo 19th Century Olla [SOLD]

Special Value Offer: The consignor of this jar has authorized us to reduce the price by 20% from the original price of $10,000 to a new price of $8,000.

Realistic birds on Zia pottery appeared around 1820 and their use has continued to today. They became much more in evidence by 1870.  The birds on this jar are typical of Zia birds of the time.  They have wings that are separate from the body that look similar to leaves.  They have short legs, red bodies outlined in black, split tail feathers and black heads.  The pupil is a small dot in a round eye and the beak is split as if the mouth is partially open.  The lobes on the head that appear to be ears actually represent feathers.

The unusual aspect of the decoration, and the most spectacular design element of any Zia jar,  is the mirror-image design that separates the bird elements.  The triangular elements, one of which is suspended from the upper framing line and the other resting on the lower framing line, have hooked ends that could represent the beak of a bird such as a parrot.   The two pair of red balloon-like elements represents feathers.  There is a wide red band underneath the framing lines.

Two of the four birds have wings that overlap and two have wings that are separated.  The ones with separated wings have fringe-like lines at the edge of the feathers.  Their tail feathers have pointed ends whereas the other two birds have rectangular tails. 

Overall, the jar is spectacularly beautiful. It dates to circa 1890s and has a patina consistent with such an age.  It's a beautiful jar of a size that is impressive.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: from a gentleman in Colorado

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