Kewa - Santo Domingo Deep Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Pueblos are associated with certain pottery designs that become somewhat a hallmark of their pottery.  San Ildefonso is associated with eagle feather and Avanyu designs, Santa Clara has become associated with the impressed bear paw, Acoma Pueblo is tied to its fine line work and Zuni Pueblo is associated with the heart line deer.

The most prominent designs associated with Santo Domingo Pueblo are black triangles that form a star pattern and the cream ovals outlined in black squares. This deep bowl has the large cream ovals or circles outlined in black that are so tied to its name.  Each potter may treat the pattern slightly different, but overall, it comes out appearing the same.

This potter, deliberately or not, decreased the diameter of the circles as she worked around the bowl.  The largest circle is about 4-1/2 inches in diameter and is surrounded by a black box measuring 4 x 5 inches.  Its adjoining neighbor’s circle measures closer to 4 inches in diameter and is in a box measuring 4 x 4-1/2 inches.  The circles continue getting slightly smaller as they progress around the circumference.  The last two circles are close to 3 inches wide at mid-point.  Together, they appear as a pair of lungs.

Whether this was intentional, or accidental is unimportant.  The result is a strong design on a deep bowl that reflects its handmade and hand painted character.  It is even more charming than if each square and each circle had been precisely measured and executed.  Adjoining pairs of circles are connected by a thin cream line that penetrates the black box.  They only connect in pairs, not all continuous throughout the design.  It adds to the thought that each pair is related.  Why she connected them in pairs remains her secret.

Condition: the bowl is in remarkable condition for a bowl that probably dates to circa 1920s.

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from California

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