Laguna Pueblo Historic Polychrome Child’s Olla [SOLD]

This is an historic child-size water jar that has been determined to have originated at Laguna Pueblo, probably in the early 1900s.  It is an exceptional work of art.  The design field is separated into body design and neck design, which perfectly accentuates and compliments the form of the jar. The neck design is comprised of stacked and tilted parallelograms, each painted in dark red, outlined in black, and split in the center with a white line.  The parallelograms extend from the edge of the rim down to the framing line at the shoulder.

The body design is strong and bold black floral elements, each petal of which is split with a white line down its center.  These floral elements encircle the body and each is connected with a deep red parallelogram like those on the neck design.  Black droplets in pairs are suspended from the lower slim framing line, barely discernable because it is overpowered by the wide black framing line above it that also is split down its center with a white line. 

A thin pair of framing lines between the design and underbody has ceremonial line breaks as does the upper framing line at the shoulder.  The Southwest Indian Pottery jar has a concave base, brown rim and orange painted on the inside lip to a depth of almost 3 inches.

This work is perfectly typical of Laguna ceramics, in form, construction, materials, and design execution. The parallelogram bars are very typical of Laguna Pueblo design elements.

This jar is marvelously pattinated, with a smooth, semi-gloss sheen; a complexity of depth, color, and surface completely unattainable save through the intricacies and subtleties of an aged surface.

Condition: very good condition.  In pencil - there are unknown initials of B. K. H. and the price of $3.50 on the bottom side of this vessel - see below and/or click on the second detailed larger image view above. 

Recommended Reading:  Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Colorado