19th Century Style Contemporary Acoma Olla [SOLD]

Barbara and Joe Cerno, Sr., have branched out from their previous period where they produced Acoma Polychrome parrot-design jars almost exclusively.  They have begun to make jars more akin to historic jars such as this one. It has the rounded shape of jars of the 1850s period and a design that recalls that of Kayenta pottery.  The Kayenta lived where the present-day Hopi and Navajo now live and were there from 560BC until A.D. 1300.  Acoma Pueblo is relatively close to the lands of the Kayenta and were probably influenced by the Kayenta cultures as were other close tribes. 

Kayenta black-on-white negative designs were believed to have a religious connection to a pantheon of deities and a cycle of ceremonial functions.  It is known that decorated ceramics were not for the purpose of art but for ceremonial or religious reasons and thus their function may have dictated the design to be applied.  The unintended but fortunate outcome is an object of art as well. 

Ceramic styles and design layout developed by the Kayenta ceramicists survived their demise.  Their painted ceramic styles have lasted into the historic period and even now into the contemporary period of pottery production.  The simplicity and boldness of style of painted Kayenta ceramics lives today in this marvelous black on white designed Acoma jar.

The design on this jar is based on an Acomita Polychrome jar, ca 1840-1860 that is published in The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon, figure 6.12, page 120.  The design was executed in a beautiful dark brown paint over a white slip and the underbody is a deep red color.  The underside is concave.  The black rim features a ceremonial line break.  The jar has a commanding presence in size and design. 

References:

Re-Creating the Word: Painted Ceramics of the Prehistoric Southwest by Barbara L. Moulard

The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Dwight P. Lanmon and Francis H. Harlow

Condition: The jar developed spall spots about six months after it was made.  Those spalls were professionally repaired.

Provenance: from the artists