Zuni Pueblo Child Size Olla with White Underbody, circa 1880s [SOLD]

It appears that small jars, such as this one, that are totally slipped in white clay date to the late 1800s.  No specific dates are provided in Harlow and Lanmon’s book entitled The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo but examples of small pottery vessels with white slip are dated in the 1880-1890 decade, when illustrated in the book.  We are therefore dating this jar circa 1880s.

The bottom of the vessel is slightly rounded with no concave depression.  The rim rolls out from the neck and is painted brown.  The entire vessel was slipped in white clay and decorated with mineral brown and red colors.  Red is at a minimum on the body of the jar but appears in abundance in the neck design.

This small jar dates to the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It is of a size for which it is difficult to ascribe a function. Vessels of this size could have been made for repositories of sacred cornmeal, for a gift to a newborn child, or even as a training piece for a beginning potter. It is truly rare to find such an exquisite jar of this diminutive size and of such extraordinary beauty and condition.

The overall image of the jar gives the impression of some antiquity. It has excellent patination and wonderful crazing to the white slip. The surface finish is consistent with earlier vessel construction techniques that exhibit a somewhat rough texture, not smooth as in later ones.

Condition: very good condition

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Colorado