Adobe Gallery Blog

This is an historic child-size water jar that is believed to date to circa 1880s.  It has a warm cream slip over which are designs in dark brown pigment. The boldness of the design and the openness of its arrangement strongly lean to an origin of Laguna Pueblo.  The stacked arches are split through their centers, another trait of Laguna Pueblo, usually seen as "split leaf" designs but in this case interpreted as stacked rain clouds. The underbody is concave and orange in color and a red band was placed on the interior of the rim.

We have chosen to identify this as having originated at Laguna Pueblo primarily based on the size and design of the vessel.  Also, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line had a daily stop at Laguna Pueblo to allow tourists to take a break, get off the train, and purchase souvenirs from the potters.  A vessel of this size and shape was certainly more attuned to the tourist trade than to pueblo use.

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