Nineteenth Century Zuni Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

This excellent small Zuni Polychrome jar dates to the last quarter of the 19^th century. It is of a size for which it is difficult to ascribe a function. Vessels of this size could have been made for repositories of sacred cornmeal, for a gift to a newborn child, or even as a training piece for a beginning potter. It is truly rare to find such an exquisite jar of this diminutive size and of such extraordinary beauty and condition.

It is undeniably Zuni in form, design, materials and character, and is an intriguing and atypical example of late Zuni artistry. The paste is typically Zuni, gray in color with a chunky texture, the temper being ground pottery shards. The underbody and neck interior are black, with white stone-polished slip on the exterior body.

The design is suggestive of early historic Zuni pieces, particularly Ashiwi Polychrome (1700-1750) in the banded division of the design plane. The overall image of the jar gives the impression of some antiquity. It has excellent patina and wonderful crazing to the white slip. The deep red pigment in the design is a color rarely seen after circa 1900, presumably because the source of that clay was exhausted.

Each red triangle in the design is outlined in brown. Those suspended from the rim are broken by a ceremonial line break.  On the shoulder, there are two wide brown lines and a thin brown line that collectively have a ceremonial line break. The framing line below the design panel also has a ceremonial line break.

The base is concave and displays a definite puki line—a result of the construction technique of starting the vessel in a puki form.  Each triangular design area has small designs, all of which are filled with fine lines.  At the base of each alternating triangle rests a small black stylized bird.

This is a rare miniature traditional Zuni Polychrome jar that exhibits design elements of pottery from a much earlier period of Zuni pottery.

Condition:  The condition of the vessel is excellent. The very slightest chip is evident on the rim at the location of the ceremonial line break but it is of minor consequence.

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

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Colorado