Laguna Pueblo Historic Double-lobe Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

The question often asked, when one sees a double-lobe jar such as this one, is why?  Unfortunately no one has postulated a reason other than a potter chose to make it in that manner.  There are photographs of two such jars published in The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo but no explanation was made as to a reason for such a vessel shape.  The ones published have the cincture at mid-body or waist of the jars unlike this jar which has the cincture at the neckline.

Dwight Lanmon, co-author of the book, and from whose collection this jar came, stated that it dates to circa 1890s and he recognizes it and others as the work of a single potter—unknown and unidentified—whose work is from the late 19^th century.

The designs on this jar are related more to traditional Laguna Pueblo historic pottery than to that from Acoma Pueblo.  I make this statement based on a conversation several years ago with Laguna potter Evelyn Cheromiah who stated without hesitation that the wide orange-colored bars zigzagging around the body of the vessel were a very traditional Laguna design style as were the black diamonds with white lines splitting them in halves.

This jar has both elements described by Cheromiah which is our basis for stating it is from a potter at Laguna.  It is known and well documented that potters from Acoma Pueblo took their pottery to Laguna to take advantage of the tourists arriving on the AT&SF train which had a stop at Laguna but not at Acoma.  With potters from both pueblos selling their wares in tandem, there is some doubt as to proper identification of origin.  Average tourists did not record names of potters or their pueblo name when purchasing as that was not considered important information.  Collectors for the Smithsonian were also cavalier about such data.  Many of its pottery collection are not catalogued with potters’ names, but only with the location and date of acquisition.

This discussion regarding whether particular historic pottery originated at Acoma or Laguna will continue among believers and non-believers.  It is known that there were Laguna potters working in the 19^th and 20^th centuries but unfortunately their wares have not been documented to a level that one can be absolute about an origin.  It is at this point that a collector must make a decision that is a satisfying answer for that collector.

When one looks at this jar, it matters not which pueblo was its home, it matters only that the potter was an exceptional artist and produced a beautiful jar, which is certainly the case here.

Condition:  very good condition with some abrasion as would be expected on a jar of this age.

Provenance:

-ex collection of Dwight Lanmon, co-author of The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo

-Most recently from the collection of a California couple who purchased it from Lanmon.

Recommended Reading:  The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon