Zuni Polychrome OLLA with Heartline Deer and Floral Design

Jennie Laate's Legacy: The Art and Influence of a Zuni Pottery Master

This highly aesthetic Zuni OLLA or water jar was made by Jennie Laate in 1990. It was originally brought to California for a Zuni pottery show at Gallery of the American West in Sacramento. The artist herself added a handwritten note detailing the process of creating it, and included is a photocopy of her note. There is also a photo of Jennie and her students' pottery from Zuni High School, where Jennie is said to have taught over 2,000 students in the art of Zuni pottery making.

The jar was impeccably made, with a whitish-tan slip behind a myriad of striking, traditional Zuni images. The very classic heartline deer are featured prominently around the piece, inside their house as they are usually seen. These are in addition to birds and two large traditional medallions, one on each side of the jar. On top there are geometrical patterns flowing with what look like tassels on their end, and these patterns sit right above a line that includes a ceremonial line break.

What is perhaps most stimulating about the OLLA is the brightness of the colors themselves. The customary orange, brown, and black colors were used, and when looking at it, it's easy to immediately be captivated. Upon further inspection, there is more and more to be revealed. The bottom of the jar is signed Jennie Laate ‘90.

Jennie Laate (1933-1994), an accomplished potter, originally from Acoma Pueblo, married a Zuni Pueblo man, and then identified herself as a Zuni potter. She was the art teacher at Zuni High School where she taught the students all the traditional techniques of gathering, cleaning, and working the clay, and gathering and processing the slip for the paints. The school had an electric kiln, so she let the students use it rather than fire their pottery outdoors. She felt that learning to process the clay and form the pottery was sufficient for class study. Her pieces contain all the allure of conventional Zuni designs.

Condition: very good condition with minor spalling in two places (see below).

Provenance: this Zuni Polychrome OLLA with Heartline Deer and Floral Design is from the estate of John Barry, dealer, author, and collector of pueblo pottery.

Recommended Reading: Made in the Zuni Style: Zuni Pueblo and the Arts of the Southwest by Suzanne G. Kenagy. An article published in Anthropology of the Americas MASTERKEY, Southwest Museum, Winter 1988.

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, Southwest Indian Pottery, Jennie Laate