Very Large Historic Zuni Pueblo Pottery Pot Water Olla Circa 1900
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4264030 | Provenance: Ownership History Available |
| Tribal Affiliation: Zuni |
This pot measures about 13 inches wide and 10 1/2 tall. Circumference is 40 1/2 inches. I have attached many pictures. I have 100 percent feedback so bid with confidence. This pot is in excellent condition with no cracks or repairs.It comes with an old type written letter (many years ago) of authenticity from lee Anderson. He was an expert and lifetime collector of historic Pueblo pottery.Southwest Indian Zuni Pueblo Pottery and Fine ArtOver 9, 000 Zuni (who call themselves the A:shiwi...) live on their reservation in western New Mexico. Zuni Pueblo is the most remote pueblo in New Mexico. It is located somewhat near to Acoma and Laguna Pueblos, but quite a distance from the Rio Grande pueblos. Additional to its isolation on the western edge of the state, Zuni residents also speak a language different from all the other pueblos. The language is unique to the Zuni.Early Zuni pottery has been classified as Ashiwi Polychrome (1700-1760) and Kiapkwa Polychrome (1760-1850). Today’s classification Zuni Polychrome started around 1850.Located thirty-four miles south of Gallup, Zuni was originally thought to be one of the “Seven Cities of Gold” by the Spanish. While visitors may not find gold, they will find exquisite silver and turquoise jewelry, unique stone-carved fetishes, and amazing pottery. Zuni is currently the most populous pueblo. Zuni Pueblo's Saint is Our Lady of Guadalupe but they do not celebrate a Feast Day
This is a superb 1890-1900 water vessel. This OLLA has many distinctive Zuni design elements: the heart-line deer, spiral volute with fine-line embellishments and the “sunflower” rosette. The underbody is concave, as is typical of all OLLAs, or water jars dating after 1700. The base is slipped in brown, with distinctive flexure at the uppermost edge of the underbody, as well as a black-slipped, unpolished neck interior and rim top. The white slip is stone-polished with mineral-paint designs. The uppermost framing line is worked in black, overlaying the geometric/spiral volute fine-line elements worked in black and red.The double framing line at the upper shoulder has one ceremonial break. At mid-body, the distinctive sunflower elements serve to anchor the composition. Above and below these central paired framing lines are two heart-line deer in black and red pigments, enclosed in an oval motif embellished with black and red geometric and fine-line motifs. This is a wonderful OLLA, in fantastic condition, with absolutely superb patina, incontrovertible evidence of the generations of hands that held, appreciated, used and perhaps loved this fine jar, a utilitarian object formed and intricately embellished to create a true work of art.The heartline deer motif, an innovation of the 1860-1870 time period, is prominent on this vessel. It was previously referred to as an antelope, the meaning of which was provided by John G. Bourke in 1881: The line running down from the animal's mouth and terminating at its heart may be described as a "prayer." It is a pictographic invocation to the "spirit of the antelope" to incline the hearts of the antelope on earth to put themselves in the way of the Zunis that they may kill them for food. I made careful inquiries upon this point and know that I have obtained the correct explanation.This historic olla would be the highlight of any serious collector.I am selling my collection, as I am aging, and have many other historic Pueblo pots and Apache and Pima baskets. If you win this piece we can talk about others.Happy bidding.
This is a superb 1890-1900 water vessel. This OLLA has many distinctive Zuni design elements: the heart-line deer, spiral volute with fine-line embellishments and the “sunflower” rosette. The underbody is concave, as is typical of all OLLAs, or water jars dating after 1700. The base is slipped in brown, with distinctive flexure at the uppermost edge of the underbody, as well as a black-slipped, unpolished neck interior and rim top. The white slip is stone-polished with mineral-paint designs. The uppermost framing line is worked in black, overlaying the geometric/spiral volute fine-line elements worked in black and red.The double framing line at the upper shoulder has one ceremonial break. At mid-body, the distinctive sunflower elements serve to anchor the composition. Above and below these central paired framing lines are two heart-line deer in black and red pigments, enclosed in an oval motif embellished with black and red geometric and fine-line motifs. This is a wonderful OLLA, in fantastic condition, with absolutely superb patina, incontrovertible evidence of the generations of hands that held, appreciated, used and perhaps loved this fine jar, a utilitarian object formed and intricately embellished to create a true work of art.The heartline deer motif, an innovation of the 1860-1870 time period, is prominent on this vessel. It was previously referred to as an antelope, the meaning of which was provided by John G. Bourke in 1881: The line running down from the animal's mouth and terminating at its heart may be described as a "prayer." It is a pictographic invocation to the "spirit of the antelope" to incline the hearts of the antelope on earth to put themselves in the way of the Zunis that they may kill them for food. I made careful inquiries upon this point and know that I have obtained the correct explanation.This historic olla would be the highlight of any serious collector.I am selling my collection, as I am aging, and have many other historic Pueblo pots and Apache and Pima baskets. If you win this piece we can talk about others.Happy bidding.
