Kewa Pueblo Large Food Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Pottery made at Kewa Pueblo, or any pueblo, traditionally served a utilitarian function at the pueblo and concurrently reflected the community's social, religious, and institutional values.  It was not until the late 1800s that such pottery found its way into museum collections and as souvenirs of visiting tourists.  It then not only lost its relationship to the maker but no longer served the function for which it was created.  Museum collectors, dealers, and tourists did not make the effort to record the name of the potter or the date at which it was made.  The items collected at the pueblos were considered ethnological specimens or just Indian-made curios.  Once a piece left the pueblo, it became just a specimen. 

Much research in the 20^th century by museums and collectors has attempted to reinterpret the history and maybe even guess at the potter of an item.  Curiosity has led to some good information and to some bad information.  Many items have been misidentified as to origin, date and potter.  Ironically, we have attempted to foster Western ideas on pueblo items.  We find it difficult to enjoy the beauty of a vessel without attempting to define its history.

Historic pottery should be appreciated for its unknown history and not be classified as to something it is not.  The beauty of a pueblo bowl and the unknown history behind it are sufficient for appreciating the many hours a potter devoted to gathering materials, forming the vessel, and decorating it with a design traditional to her pueblo and perhaps to her family.  The fact that it might have been used daily in the pueblo for religious or secular functions, merely as trivial as serving a meal, are additional traits to savor when looking at a bowl.

This bowl is certainly of the early 20^th century period and appears to have been used as a food bowl.  It features the simple but bold Kewa Pueblo design consisting of strong black triangles arranged in a chain around the circumference.  We can appreciate the beauty of the bowl as having been made for daily use at a pueblo table.  Somehow, someday it left the pueblo and has been lovingly treasured and protected.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: from the collection of a New Mexico fifth-generation native.

Recommended Reading:  A River Apart: The Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pottery, edited by Valerie K. Verzuh.