Historic Acoma Pueblo Tall-neck Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

Changes in traditional Acoma pottery occurred as early as 1880 with the arrival of the railroad in New Mexico, and continued in the 1930s when Route 66 was built along the path of the old AT&SF (Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe) Railway line.  These events provided Acoma and Laguna potters with a steady source of tourists as buyers for their wares.

Some of these changes resulted in enhanced pottery designs and some resulted in inferior tourist wares.  Vessel shapes that were functional at the pueblos were modified when producing items for sale.  Simultaneously, potters at Acoma provided functional, ceremonial and decorative pottery to pueblos in which pottery production was dying out.  Tourist wares provided potters with a steady income, functional items were responsible for the continued production of traditional wares, and museums and collectors were responsible for demanding finer workmanship than that required for tourist souvenirs.  These good and bad influences were responsible for a continuation of a tradition at Acoma.

One of the changes to vessel shape that began appearing in the early 1900s was a tall-neck vase, a shape not seen in previous periods.  It was a shape made for sale as were many other vessel shapes.  Potters experimented with shapes to see what would appeal to collectors.  Designs continued to be traditional.  Geometric designs and bird motifs still predominated.

During the period 1920s to 1940s, Acoma potters began painting Acoma, N.M. on the base of their wares destined for sale.  Adding the potter’s name was not yet being done.  This jar does have Acoma, N.M on the base, identifying it as probably circa 1940s and is still considered to be historic southwest Indian pottery.

This tall jar with a graceful neck evoking thoughts of a swan was developed as an item for sale.  It was traditionally made with native clay and temper, coiled formed, painted with vegetal and mineral paints, and fired in an outdoor manner.  Only the vessel shape differed from tradition.  A shape such as this one was often made to be used as a lamp base and that is exactly what this one was intended to be.  A small drill hole near the base was incorporated into the jar when it was made.  Whether it was ever used as a lamp base is unknown.

Condition: very good condition with no major flaws.  Someone dropped an ink pen and feather in the jar which are still inside.

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post, located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and which was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose other name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.