Santo Domingo Polychrome Interior and Exterior Design Pottery Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Santo Domingo Polychrome is a typology designation that has been used for over a hundred years. Now that the pueblo has gone back to using its ancestral name, Kewa, there could be some confusion as to whether Santo Domingo Polychrome or Kewa Polychrome is the correct typological designation. Most likely, Santo Domingo Polychrome will continue to be used until there is an official recognition of a typology name change, which is not likely.

This bowl is typical of the size of a food serving bowl. It is slipped on the interior with a polished cream finish, has a single design element in the bottom, has a black rim with the traditional ceremonial line break, and a red clay polished underbody. There is no rag-wiped red band just below the design field.

The design field on the exterior of the bowl is divided into rectangular boxes, each containing the same four-leaf floral element. The red and black colors are from mineral and vegetal sources.

The bowl appears to have been used as there is such evidence on the interior although it is only slightly stained, mostly near the bottom of the bowl.

Condition: this Santo Domingo Polychrome Interior and Exterior Design Pottery Serving Bowl is in excellent condition with some minor loss of paint on a lower framing line.

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post, located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and which was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose other name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.

Recommended Reading: A River Apart—The Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos by Valerie Verzuh, et al.

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Pottery, Contemporary Pottery, Kewa Pueblo - Santo Domingo Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo