Late Nineteenth Century Zuni Small Jar circa 1880 [SOLD]

This child-size Zuni polychrome jar is filled with a variety of design elements.  The neck design is comprised of L-shaped elements in different positions but all filled with dots—some red and some black.  A pair of thin black framing lines at the neck and a pair of wide framing lines at the shoulder define the neck area of decoration. 

The body decoration is a mixture of many elements.  The upper row has a series of boxes encircling the vessel body.  The boxes are outlined in double black lines and contain arrow-shape elements with an appendage of a pair of circles each containing a black dot, and on the upper corner of the box is an L-shaped element painted red and containing black dots.

The next, and lower, level of decoration alternates with red birds and stepped triangles.  The red birds have closed beaks, are not outlined in black, and each one has plumage from its head.  The stepped triangles are red, black and dotted.

Clues to selecting a date for such a jar are: Neck interior slip, black and unpolished 1870s; Black underbody 1880; Puki flexure 1850-1920; Body design 1860-1870; and Dotted fillings 1870-1880.  Based on these parameters, we have selected a date of 1880 for the jar.  The immense amount of decoration and the lack of heart-line deer and medallions are other clues to an early date.

Condition: very good condition for its age

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zuni Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Provenance: from the collection of a New Mexico family