Traditional Kewa Pueblo Chile Stew Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Chile bowls have their start in life as any other pottery bowl—that is they have a clay bottom formed in a puki and side walls that grow upward one coil at a time.  Their walls are scraped and sanded and eventually painted with a design of the choice of the potter or a design fostered by tradition.  The best view of a bowl is from the side at a slight angle so one can appreciate the decorated exterior and have a glimpse of the interior below the rim.  The interior of a utilitarian bowl is not decorated but the patina developed over years or decades of use is worth viewing.

This Traditional Kewa Pueblo Chile Stew Serving Bowl, like many chile bowls, is decorated on the exterior with black painted designs that are outlined in black triangles that alternate facing up and down.  The interior is a beautiful cream color, rag-wiped finish.  The rim is painted black and in devoid of a ceremonial line break.  Perhaps the artist did not want to deface her design with a line break passing through it. There is a single black framing line just below the rim and just below the design panel

Bowls like this one are used for serving food at home and for serving food during ceremonies.  Residents take bowls of food to the plaza during dance ceremonies. 

Condition: very good condition.

Provenance: from a resident of Santa Fe

Recommended Reading:  A River Apart: The Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos by Valerie Verzuh