Tesuque Pueblo Pictorial Historic Pottery Scoop [SOLD]

This Tesuque Pueblo pottery item is probably one made with outside influence.  It is a scoop of the kind used to dig into a bowl of tamales and scoop some out for serving.  Also, they were used to scoop dry items.  The fact that it is decorated with imagery of a pueblo dancer does suggest that it was an idea of someone like Jake Gold, as imagery like this was eagerly sought by tourists and collectors of the time.  It looked “ceremonial” and thus was something that might have a secret use at the pueblo.  Ideas like this were good selling techniques.

Tesuque Pueblo is well known for having made a variety of unusual pottery items in the late 19^th century.  Santa Fe merchants, such as Jake Gold, were partly responsible as they encouraged potters at Tesuque to make items the merchants felt were saleable.  Rain god figurines come to mind as merchant-inspired pottery items.

The underside of this historic pottery scoop is footed and the clay was left in an undecorated state.  There is no slip.  The top side is slipped in cream clay and decorated with black mineral paint.  The imagery is meant to be that of a pueblo dancer. The hole above the head of the dancer would have been for securely holding the scoop while in use as well as to display it by hanging. It is not likely that it would be footed if made for pueblo use.

This is another wonderful creation from Tesuque Pueblo, known for making many unusual items.  It was well constructed and beautifully decorated. It is probably circa 1900 or a little later.

Condition: this Tesuque Pueblo Pictorial Historic Pottery Scoop is in excellent condition

Provenance: from a gentleman in Albuquerque

Recommended Reading: The Native American Curio Trade in New Mexico by Jonathan Batkin. This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Relative Links: historic pottery, Tesuque Pueblo