Kewa Pueblo Polychrome Olla with Birds and Flowers [SOLD]

Santo Domingo (now Kewa Pueblo) was on the direct route of a railroad line as early as 1881. As a convenience to its travelers, the train stopped at the pueblo long enough for the Indians to board the train and sell their pottery and jewelry. As a result, Santo Domingo potters were early to adapt their pottery to the needs of the travelers. They made shapes the travelers were familiar with and they made small pieces the travelers could conveniently take in the baggage.

This olla is a traditional shape for a water jar but is slightly smaller (9" x 9") than the typical water jars made for use at the pueblo.  It is quite likely that this is an early example of an item made and sold to a traveler on the train.  There is evidence through loss of a small amount of the red slip on the underbody of the vessel that the jar could have been used for a short period before being sold.  It is traditional in all aspects of manufacture.  

It exhibits the classic traits of late Santo Domingo Polychrome. The interior of the neck and the underbody are red-slipped and the rim is black. The cream/off-white is rag-wiped bentonite slip and the designs were executed in black vegetal paint and red clay.  There are three framing lines at the neck and a pair underneath the decorated area.

The birds are executed in black guaco paint with elaborate red tail feathers.  They are walking on their tip-toes.  The flowers are red with black outlines and black split-leaves and they sprout from the lower framing lines.

The jar was beautifully made and carefully executed which leads one to believe it was made for the benefit of the potter and not for sale to a tourist, however, that remains unknown.  The bentonite slip has a wonderful sheen and patina attesting to its long existence.  The jar was probably made in the very early 1900s. 

Condition:  structurally in excellent condition with three minor rim chips which someone has carefully attempted to conceal with black magic marker.

Provenance: from a ranching family in Arizona

Recommended Reading:  A River Apart: The Pottery of Cochiti & Santo Domingo Pueblos