Kewa, Santo Domingo Pueblo Nineteenth Century Historic Pottery Storage Jar [R]

This large historic pottery storage jar was made at Kewa Pueblo (then Santo Domingo Pueblo) around 1880.  It is a jar that boasts its history through its patina, wear pattern, and extraordinary beauty.  It certainly sat in the home of a family at the pueblo for decades until, for unknown reasons, it departed for another destination.

This jar has the classic vessel shape of storage jars from the period.  It is globular, squat, and substantial.  It has a graceful curving neck that is red on the interior and with a black rim.  Below the design area is a polished red slip lower body.

The design concept is very traditional to the pueblo of the time—a series of interconnected diamonds, split down their centers and containing small ovals.  The neck designs are a series of black triangles connected apex to apex.  Also, there is an old merchant label attached to the jar identifying the origin and an old, original price.

Condition: there is some loss of slip on one side at the lower framing line, and two rim chips.

Provenance: this Kewa, Santo Domingo Pueblo Nineteenth Century Historic Pottery Storage Jar is from the collection of a gentleman from Taos

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