Zia Pueblo Four-color Polychrome Olla [R]

It is always exciting to acquire pottery that has been photographically documented in the early 20^th century along with the potter.  That is the situation here with this wonderful Zia olla.  It was photographed around 1935 by Frasher of Pomono, California.  We are including a copy of the photograph in this write-up.  The jar is situated in the lower left corner of the photograph.

Harviana Pino Toribio. "Zia Pueblo Indian Pottery Maker." Photograph by Frasher, Pomona, California,ca. 1935, courtesy Palace of the Governors (NMHM/DCA) neg. no. 47954.

Toribio, born in 1904, was the daughter of famous potter Martina Galvan Pino.  She probably started making pottery at the young age of 15 or 16 and continued until she passed away at the age of 45—a short career.

The featured olla includes flying black birds, each surrounded by a framed section of four stepped corners in red or orange and each with black protrusions at each step.  There are three birds in similar framed designs. 

The jar is in excellent condition with only the amount of surface abrasions expected on a jar of this age. 

Provenance: ex. coll. Elaine Horwitch