Adobe Gallery Blog

James Stevenson collected jars at Acoma, for the Smithsonian, before 1880 with birds with straight beaks such as those on this jar, indicating that they existed as early as the 1870s.  We think of birds on Acoma jars as always being represented as parrots, but birds of this style were also painted, although certainly not as frequently.

The birds on this Acoma jar have slim bodies and elaborate tail feathers.  They are not outlined in black except for the head.  They have fat thighs and short skinny legs whose feet are attached to plants.  The black circular eyes on all four birds are covered with orange paint almost to the point of obliteration.

Read more about this pottery here..