Polychrome Double Chamber Canteen [SOLD]

Lela Naranjo Gutierrez (1895-1966) and her son Luther Gutierrez (1911-1987) collaborated on pottery following the death of Lela’s husband Van in 1956. Lela and Van were true innovators at Santa Clara Pueblo. They specialized in pictorial designs in a variety of hues and colors not normally associated with pueblo pottery. Luther continued in his father’s style.

This vessel is a reintroduction of a prehistoric vessel of over a thousand years ago.  It resembles a pair of gourds put together to form a two-chamber canteen.  The umbilical connector between the two globular sections is hollow so liquid from one chamber can pass to the other chamber.

Each of the globular chambers is decorated with an elaborate Avanyu (water serpent) that wraps around until the tail reaches the head.  The water serpents are elaborately decorated with beautiful designs in multiple colors of pigment.  Lightning arrows shoot from the mouth of each serpent and others shoot upward toward the spout.

Condition: structurally in excellent condition with some abrasions to the painted design.

Recommended Reading:  Seven Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from a client in Sanders, Arizona