Zia Pueblo Polychrome Deep Serving Bowl [SOLD]

There were probably more bowls made in New Mexico Pueblos than there were jars.  Very large bowls, called dough bowls, were used for preparing bread dough; medium-size ones were used for preparation of tortilla dough, serving food at the table or for storage and even overturned as a lid for covering jars; the smallest bowls were used for daily meals.

This bowl would be of the medium size and probably used as stated above.  Most of the polished red slip on the interior has been rubbed from constant use so the bowl appears to have had an extensive life at the pueblo before entering the marketplace.  It has a very traditional Zia design of floral elements over a cream slip.  The underbody is slipped in red clay.

Condition: there is a one-inch vertical crack at the rim but it is secure.  Zia bowls are so strong that this crack is non-effective.

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

Provenance: from the extensive collection of a Santa Fe resident who has unfortunately moved to another city and found it necessary to greatly reduce her collection.