Isleta Pueblo Traditional Historic Pottery Bowl with Red Band [SOLD]

This bowl is traditional historic pottery from Isleta Pueblo. The most beautiful pottery ever made in Isleta is this plain-ware style that is referred to as Red-on-tan typology. Typical traits are sand temper, a red band wiped around the exterior rim, and scattered fire clouds on the exterior. The interior was stone polished to facilitate use of the bowl.

These utilitarian pieces were traditionally made for use at the pueblo and were rarely sold to tourists who preferred the decorated wares that were not even traditional to Isleta but were brought in with a group of potters from Laguna Pueblo who migrated to and settled at Isleta in 1879 following a factionalism at Laguna. The Laguna women continued making Polychrome pottery of the Laguna style and taught the Isleta women the techniques. This new style became traditional in Isleta, replacing the original pottery style.

The exterior of this historic bowl is simply the beautiful unslipped natural clay native to Isleta Pueblo that was stone polished to a hardness that makes the vessel useful in daily kitchen needs. The warmth of the clay after it has been fired is akin to a beautiful sunset.

The Isleta pre-1900 pottery was made from tan earth-color clay over which was applied red slip that was then stone polished. Sand was used as a temper agent. The potters who were traditionalists at Isleta did not switch over to making Laguna-style pottery. Those older potters continued making their traditional wares as late as the 1920s.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Isleta Pueblo Traditional Historic Pottery Bowl with Red Band is from the collection of a New Mexico resident

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

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Historic Pottery, Isleta Pueblo