Zia Pueblo Very Large Magnificent Storage Jar [SOLD]

According to research documentation by Harlow and Lanmon, Zia potters began experimenting with a new overall slip for the body of a vessel in the 1920s.  The slip resulted in an orange-tan finish, warmer than the traditional cream slip used at the time. It is suspected that most of the vessels produced with this slip were in the 1920s with maybe a few continuing into the 1930s.  Many, if not most, of the examples had a wide wiped-on red band under the design panel. This generally was discontinued by 1930.

This jar, with the orange-tan slip and a wide wiped-on red band would then have been made in the 1920s according to the above information.  Most of the jars of that period were painted with geometric designs, such as this one. It also was at this time that the Zia bird began appearing on Zia pottery.  Unfortunately, once potters discovered that the Zia bird enhanced sales of their pottery, most potters placed birds on all their work and the marvelous individual geometric designs began to disappear.  It is those individual geometric designs that identified traditional Zia pottery and the extraordinary artistic abilities of the potters.

The four design elements on this jar float lightly on the surface of the vessel, unattached to rim or base or to adjoining side-by-side designs.  Each one is individual and they alternate in an up and down orientation. The design could be a stylized interpretation of a bird. The red triangles would represent wings and the black rectangles the feathers.  The pair of red leaf-like elements represent the bird's tail. The bird’s head would be the triangle with a black triangle at its apex.

The design was most likely that of a single potter or perhaps of her family.  Families respected designs by other families and did not infringe by copying their designs.  Unfortunately, we have not found published examples of similar designs as on this jar.

Condition: this Zia Pueblo Very Large Magnificent Storage Jar is in very good condition.  Examination under UV light did not reveal any repairs or over-paint.  

Provenance: from the extensive pottery collection of a family from Denver, Colorado

Reference: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon