Historic Zia Pueblo Polychrome Utilitarian Dough Bowl

This historic polychrome dough bowl was made by an unknown Zia Pueblo potter. In Lanmon and Harlow's The Pottery of Zia Pueblo, page 286, figure 14.66, there is a photograph of noted Zia potter Trinidad Medina performing a pottery making demonstration. The photograph is dated to circa 1933. Sitting near the potter is a bowl that appears to be nearly identical in design and size to this piece. This bowl could be the same one that appears in the photograph, a similar piece made by Medina, or the work of another potter during the same era. We cannot say with certainty.

The potter did a fine job with this piece, forming an attractive vessel and decorating its exterior beautifully. The bowl leans just a bit to one side, but not sufficiently to be detrimental to pleasant viewing.

A single design band circles the exterior, reaching from the rim down and covering the upper two thirds of the bowl. Semicircular sections of cream slip appear beneath split triangular forms in black, repeatedly, hanging down from the rim and rising from below. The area in between the semicircles is painted red, forming a wide band with gentle arches and jagged peaks. The designs flow beautifully around the exterior, and the coloration will appeal to many.

The bowl is gently patinated from many years of handling. Evidence of light use appears in the interior center, in the form of light abrasions and accumulated materials. Small fire clouds appear, adding an additional visual element to the exterior.

Condition: excellent condition, light wear from handling

Provenance: this Historic Zia Pueblo Polychrome Utilitarian Dough Bowl is from a private collection

Reference: Harlow, Francis H., and Dwight P. Lanmon. The Pottery of Zia Pueblo SAR Press, Santa Fe, 2003.

TAGS: Reyes Gachupin Moquino/Pino, Rafael Medina, José del La Cruz Medina, Zia Pueblo, Historic Pueblo Pottery, Sofia Medina, Elizabeth Medina, Marcellus Medina, Trinidad Gachupin Medina