Special Value Offer: Mojave Large Jar by Elmer Gates [SOLD]

Special Value Offer: The estate from which this jar is consigned has authorized a price reduction of 25% from the original price of $2500 to a new price of $1875.

Generally, Mojave men were not potters. Elmer Gates, who was born in 1929 and lived in Poston, Arizona on the Fort Mohave Reservation, was an exception. He had learned to make pottery from his aunt. He then continued studying all styles of southwestern pottery and working with various techniques. He sold his work at the Colorado River Indian Tribal Museum in the 1970s. Gates was so confident in his chosen profession that he taught a number of young artists of Mojave and Maricopa tribes, as well as non-natives, including Santa Fe ceramicist Rick Dillingham.

Gates was a true artist. He experimented with many shapes, techniques and motifs. He made human figurines, but was also well known for his owls and frogs. His shapes were free flowing and not necessarily true to muscular form.

This vessel is the form of a Mojave cooking pot although the Mojave had long since stopped making them for use by the time Gates made this one. It is a beautiful shape with clean lines and fine design. The vessel was made in 1975 and intended for sale, not use. The simple banded design is repeated four times around the vessel.

Condition: The vessel is in original excellent condition.

Provenance: ex. coll. Frances Sonnenberg, Santa Fe resident.