Adobe Gallery Blog

A very old paper note inside this jar is labeled Laguna and we tend to agree that it certainly could be a jar from Laguna Pueblo, circa 1880s. It is a large jar with a magnificent design from just above the base to the rim, without division panels. It is a four-color polychrome and a very visual one. The dark red zigzag lines (two of them) encircle the jar and act as outlines for the major design of the mid-body.

There are four small diamonds filled with black and white checkerboard elements, these in turn are outlined with red petals of the nature of a flower, both of which are then outlined in a white box with black outlining. Another diamond of orange color outlined in black lines encompasses these other elements. This whole four-part design is surrounded by black triangles on all four sides, each of which has a pair of white "eyes." These black triangles, in turn, are surrounded by paired triangles filled with parallel fine lines.

Interestingly, one of the black triangles with "eyes" is not black, but is white with a black figure 8 in lieu of "eyes" or perhaps the 8 is a set of eyes. Knowingly placing the black 8 in the white triangle is the potter's sign to us that leaving this one white was intentional, not an accidental oversight.

There are four of the multi-layered triangular and diamond elements that form the main design of the jar and they are each sandwiched between the dark red zigzag lines and connected to each other by a pair of quarter-moon black curves split by black dots. There are flowers and other fine-line and black triangle designs throughout the whole pot. It is truly an amazing jar.

Condition: UV light examination reveals that there has been some conservation at the rim. It appears that two triangular-shaped pieces of the rim were broken off and replaced, without plaster fill. A lateral crack appears to have had the same conservation, without plaster. There is some abrasion to the design but nothing exceptional.
Provenance: from a family in Santa Fe, one of whom is the author of a new book Southwest Art Defined: An Illustrated Guide
Recommended Reading: Acoma and Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Subject: Magnificent Large Laguna Pueblo Four-color Polychrome Olla
Potter Unknown
Category: Historic
Origin: Laguna Pueblo
Medium: clay, pigment
Size: 13" tall x 13-1/4" diameter
Item # C3380