San Ildefonso Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Large pottery bowls from San Ildefonso Pueblo are among the scarcest items made at the pueblo. One rarely sees them. Water jars or ollas are much more available. This bowl was coil formed from native clay and slipped with bentonite—Cochiti variety—that required only rag polishing as opposed to the pre-1900 San Ildefonso slip that required stone polishing. The use of bentonite slip and a red rim are clues to the period of the bowl, which is around 1905-1910.

The interior design consists of four large triangular elements whose apex point to the bottom center of the bowl, perhaps signifying the sipapu or place of emergence. The bottom of the bowl is just very slightly concave.

The exterior is completely without decoration, consisting only of stone-polished natural clay. There is a white painted spot on the rim with the number 6 (or 9) painted in black, which is probably an acquisition number of a former collection (see image below).

Condition: this San Ildefonso Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Serving Bowl is in excellent condition.

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

Relative Links: San Ildefonsp Pueblo, Native American Pottery