Modern Four-Color Acoma Pueblo Recreation of a Historic Jar [SOLD]

New Mexico Pueblo Indians are proud of the pottery made by their ancestors and have brought some of the early designs back to life by recreating those designs on new vessels. That is what this jar represents. Lilly M. Salvador has recreated designs from an historic Acoma jar that is in the Smithsonian which she states dates to circa 1800.

In her recreation of the Smithsonian’s historic jar, Lilly Salvador provides us with a look at what must be an amazing 19th century vessel.  Each of the four birds is unique in presentation from contemporary Acoma birds, which are generally more realistic parrot representations.  The birds on this jar have a wonderful body—oval in shape, dual wide bands, and horizontal black elements within. The black heads of the birds resemble those of parrots, yet differ in style.  The head feathers are orange with black dots outlining their edges. Two of the birds are presented in orange color and two in a darker rust color. Between each bird is a floral plant that is in bloom.  The rim is black and the underbody is in traditional Acoma deep red. The bottom is flat.

Written by the potter on the underside is “Acku, NM 0068 Dzaisratyaitsa Maria Lilly Original Pot is in the Smithsonian Collection, Dating back to 1800.”

The jar in the Smithsonian collection which inspired Lilly Salvador was collected at Acoma Pueblo in 1883 by Victor and Cosmos Mindeleff. It has been dated to 1870-1880 and is pictured in Figure 17.53 on page 301 of The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon.

Lillian Salvador is a daughter of Frances Pino Torivio (1905-2001), niece of Lolita Concho (1910- ?), and sister of Wanda Aragon (1948 – present), all of whom are or were outstanding potters.  She is carrying on the tradition of producing the finest Acoma pottery. She has been a consistent winner at Santa Fe Indian Market; is represented in collections of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Heard Museum in Phoenix, the Albuquerque Museum, and others; and has been represented in publications by Monthan, Barry, Trimble, Minge, Dillingham, Reano, Lester, Peaster and Painter, as well as in U. S. News and World Report in 1991.  She was included in the Albuquerque Museum 1979 exhibit “One Space: Three Visions.”

Lilly’s painting technique is precise.  Each line is consistent is thickness, the paint intensity does not vary and is strong and rich.  She is a masterful potter and recognized as such by today’s collectors.

Condition: this Modern Four-Color Acoma Pueblo Recreation of a Historic Jar is in excellent original condition

Provenance: from a gentleman in New Mexico

Recommended Reading: Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf