Adobe Gallery Blog

Dough bowls were not made at Zia Pueblo before the late 1700s.  Dough bowls did not materialize until the arrival of the Spaniards and their introduction of flour to the Natives.  Prior to the introduction of flour for making baked bread, there was no need for dough bowls. Many of the pueblos did not accept the Spanish bread for a hundred years or more.  Zia seems to be one of those that did not make loaf bread until later.

The experience gained in making large storage jars for storage of dried foods and other necessities eventually paved the way for potters to experiment making dough bowls.  The design elements on dough bowls have persisted almost without change since the first ones were made.  This design was first developed on water jars during the San Pablo Polychrome period (1760-1820) and then used in dough bowls even into the present Zia Polychrome period.

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