Laguna Pueblo Historic Pitcher with Handle [SOLD]

Written in pencil on the body of this pitcher is “Found in Acoma in 1880 Navajo Indian.”  Of course, this is not of Navajo origin and quite possibly might not be of Acoma origin, but is likely a product of Laguna Pueblo, and circa 1880 is a reasonable date to ascribe to it.  It has a band of decoration painted in that deep red clay that has not generally been used since 1900.

The dark red and dark orange rainbow bands, supplemented by dark brown designs, provide a design that is strong visually.  It makes this small pottery vessel stand out among larger pieces that are weaker in color. 

Refugees from Acoma, Zuni and other pueblos established Laguna Pueblo a few years after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Its date of establishment was 1699. As a result, its pottery can be very like that of Acoma and Zuni Pueblos, and, for the most part, is indistinguishable from ceramics at Acoma, but not so much from that at Zuni except for similarity in design elements. Acoma and Laguna clay is similar but Zuni clay differs from that at those two pueblos.  Sometimes designs must be used as a guideline for distinguishing ceramics at Laguna.

There is an excellent article in American Indian Art Magazine, Vol. 32, #3, Summer 2007, by Dwight Lanmon, entitled "Identifying Laguna Pueblo Pottery, Circa 1900." Although it applies to circa 1900 pottery, and this jar probably dates to before 1900, the information in the article gives a good understanding of how difficult it is to distinguish between Acoma and Laguna pottery.

A second article of interest is entitled "On Distinguishing Laguna from Acoma Polychrome," authored by Florence H. Ellis and published in El Palacio, Vol. 73, #3, Autumn 1966. It is worth reading because it makes distinguishing pottery from the two pueblos even more confusing.    

We have chosen to identify this as having originated at Laguna Pueblo primarily based on the footed pedestal, a trait seen more often from Laguna than Acoma.  Another reason for such an attribution is that the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line had a daily stop at Laguna Pueblo to allow tourists to take a break, get off the train, and purchase souvenirs from the potters.  A vessel of this size and shape was certainly more attuned to the tourist trade than to pueblo use.

Condition: excellent condition for its age, with one chip on the pedestal base.

Provenance: from a family in Albuquerque

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham