Zia Polychrome Jar with Capped Spirals, circa 1900 [SOLD]

The predominant design element on this pottery jar is a spiral with a circle at each end on which are two triangular elements on each circle. This element has appeared on Zia pottery from as early as 1800 on what has been referred to as San Pablo Polychrome, continuing through the Trios Polychrome period and into the Zia Polychrome era.

The lack of any red pigment in the design is unusual during this period. The two cap fillings attached to each circle of the spiral are rendered in cross hachuring of different intensity. At one end, the parallel lines cross at only the end point. On the other end, there is complete crossing of all the lines.

The designs on this Zia Pueblo jar are very similar to those on a jar in the Indian Art Research Center of the School for Advanced Research that was donated to SAR by Santa Fe artist Sheldon Parsons. It is pictured on page 84 of Harlow and Lanmon. Other than this one example, there are no others in the book similar to this jar.

The condition of the historic vessel is excellent. There are no repairs, restorations, or over-painting. There are some areas of abrasion but they are relatively minor.

Provenance: From an Albuquerque collection.

Reference: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow and Dwight Lanmon