Zia Pueblo Four-Color Jar by Sofia Medina

This wonderful four-color polychrome Jar was made by Sofia Medina of Zia Pueblo. It was painted with cream, brown, red, and orange slips or pigments. It has charming Zia birds-two rendered in dark brown pigment, and two with orange slip. The double rainbows were colored in orange and red slips, a striking change to the routine of painting the rainbows the same color. The birds and rainbows are repeated on opposite sides of the jar. The dark brown designs obviously refer to water-typical of water jar decorations. Application of the designs was in the finest detail.

The area below the design occupies about a fifth of the surface and is red stone-polished slip. It is on the base of the red section that Sofia signed her name.

Sofia Pino Medina (1932 - 2010) married into the Medina family in 1948. She and her new husband, Rafael (1929-1998), lived with his grandmother, Trinidad Medina, who taught Sofia the techniques of potting. Her mentor, Trinidad, was one of the most talented potters at Zia Pueblo and Sofia learned well and produced quality wares throughout her life. Sofia used only natural materials in her pottery, including the pigments for painting. Her husband is known for using acrylic paints on pottery after firing.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Zia Pueblo Four-Color Jar by Sofia Medina is from the estate of a Santa Fe resident.

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon

Reference: Southern Pueblo Pottery: 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf.

TAGS: Trinidad Medina, Zia Pueblo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Lois Medina, Rafael Medina, Juanita Toribio Pino, Sofia Medina