Tall and Graceful Wedding Vessel from Acoma Pueblo [SOLD]

We have been posting items from the former trading post in Carlsbad, New Mexico that closed in 1977 known as Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post.  This wedding vessel is another item related to that family.  It was made by Helen Vallo of Acoma Pueblo and she was a cousin to Chief Sunny Skies (Clyde Hunt) and the mother of Henry Vallo.  The family had retained all the inventory remaining from the trading post since 1977 and has been releasing it to us over the past year.  Here is another great item that stayed in the family and is still owned by Helen’s son, Henry Vallo.

The wedding vase has that large bulbous body and short neck associated with older wedding vessels of the 19^th century, however, this one is from the mid-20^th century.  Helen Vallo made pottery during her lifetime and, early in her career, would set up a table and sell her wares by the roadside in Cubero, New Mexico, one of the villages at Acoma on the old Route 66, a favorite spot to sell pottery to travelers on the old highway.

The design on the wedding vessel is a corn plant in a circle formed by four abstract birds.  Various black fine-line elements are throughout the body of the vessel and they possibly represent rain.  The two short spouts are connected by a twisted handle arch.  The base is signed HRV Sky City Acoma New Mexico.

Condition: very good condition

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from Henry Vallo of Acoma Pueblo, son of Helen Vallo, maker of the vessel.