Adobe Gallery Blog
Small Zia Pueblo Serving Bowl - C3885E
Bowls represent the lower half of the earth and, as such, represent the area where food is grown for nourishment of the people. They are used for food preparation, for serving food, and for use as a lid or covering to be placed over another container for protection of the contents. Such a concept adds immensely to our appreciation of what we normally consider as just a bowl.
This small bowl appears to have been sold before ever being used at the pueblo. There is no evidence that it was used for serving food. One explanation of the design on the exterior is "deer hooves" but that is probably just an interpretation that may or may not bear fruit.