Zuni Pueblo Historic Large Olla, circa 1860s [SOLD]

According to Harlow and Lanmon in The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo, there is a correlation in brown interior necks, red underbody paint and spiral designs that can be used to assist in dating a vessel.  A brown neck interior along with a red underbody would coincide with a beginning date of around 1855.  Black paint for the underbody of vessels began to phase in around 1850 and was fully in use by all potters by the early 1890s.  Red bottoms, which had been in use since before 1840 declined in use starting around 1850 and were mostly eliminated by the mid 1890s.

The capped spiral design originated in the pre-1850 Kiapkwa Polychrome period and continues to be used into the Zuni Polychrome period.  The spirals are comprised of long graceful curved whorls with caps on opposing sides.  The caps are generally filled with cross hatched lines of the finest quality.

The rosette on Zuni pottery began to appear during the transition period from Kiapkwa Polychrome to Zuni Polychrome (circa 1840s-1860s).  It has been interpreted as a sunflower or a Salimopiya Katsina mask.  Its exact origin is not certain.

This magnificent Zuni jar has a brown interior rim, red underbody, capped spirals and rosettes.  All of these are elements that would indicate a date shortly after the mid-1800s, certainly during the third quarter of the 19^th century.

Condition:  The jar has evidence, through its rim wear, of extensive use at the pueblo before landing in the hands of a collector.  The jar is stable and in extraordinary condition and there is no evidence of restoration or over-paint.

Provenance: ex. coll. New York City collector of Native arts.