Zia Pueblo Pottery Tile with Zia Bird [SOLD]

This pottery tile comes from a Zia Pueblo potter. Unfortunately, we are unable to identify her. From the look and feel of the tile, we estimate the late 1920s or early 1930s as the decade of creation.

This piece was made for sale and displayed as a work of art, but it's old enough to have acquired a wonderful patina—similar to that which appears on utilitarian ollas and dough bowls from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Those who appreciate the look of a heavily used historic vessel will notice and appreciate this characteristic.

The tile itself feels substantial and well made, and its designs—a Zia bird beneath a red rainbow—were painted with skill and style. The color scheme is classic Zia, using a simple palette of red and black over cream slip. Two holes appear near the upper corners, so that the tile can be easily hung from a wall for display.

"Tiles were also products of Zia potters, and potters at many other Pueblos made them as well. At Zia in the 1940s, they were made mainly by Harviana Toribio and Vicentita Pino. A set of tiles to surround a fireplace was sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C., but whether they were ever installed is unknown, and they have not been located." [Harlow & Lanmon, 2003:313]

Condition: Good condition with visible wear from handling, materials accumulated on front and back. No restoration or repair.

Provenance: this Zia Pueblo Pottery Tile with Zia Bird is from a private Canada collection

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow & Dwight P. Lanmon. School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, 2003

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Zia Pueblo