Zia Pueblo Beautiful Historic Olla [R]

Patina on historic pottery greatly enhances the beauty of a vessel.  That is most certainly true on this beautiful Zia olla from the turn of the century—circa 1890-1910.  The cream slip has darkened with age and provides a canvas-like surface on which to display the deep red design elements.  The graceful and elegant design featuring a floral-like element encased in an interrupted rainbow arc emphasizes the importance of the single floral element not encumbered with numerous floras with berries or bird figures.  It is this style of design that was so prevalent around 1900 that illustrates the apex of beautiful and simple design concept at Zia Pueblo.

Stevenson collected several jars of this style from Zia in 1887.  It seems that this elegant style was not continued after 1930.  It is quite possible that the rainbow arcs were influenced from Acoma Pueblo.  The bird used on Zia pottery that is known simply as the Zia bird seems to have had its inauguration around 1880 and has continued since.  It is really unfortunate that potters do not resurrect the old style of pottery design that is so free flowing and individual, instead of everyone producing the same or similar Zia bird design.

I cannot speak too highly of the beauty of this jar.  The deep red fan-like designs are outlined in black as are the rainbow bands.  The richness of the red, the strength of the black and the warmth of the cream slip combine in the most beautiful manner to illustrate the immense talent of an unknown potter who should be showered with accolades for her artistic creation.

Condition:  UV examination reveals that there has been no restoration or repair or over-paint on the jar.  It shows evidence of natural ethnographic wear at the rim and a white residue on the lower body which, if one desired could be removed.  I scraped it with a fingernail and it came off but, personally, I think it adds to the charm of the jar and I would not remove it.  It is possibly calcium from water leaching through the vessel wall.  The interior shows evidence of water use.  Overall, the jar is in excellent condition of a dimension desirable by collectors of historic used vessels.

Provenance: from the collection of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading:  The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow and Dwight P. Lanmon