Black-on-Cream Tesuque Pueblo Serving Bowl [SOLD]

This Black-on-cream Tesuque Pueblo bowl is typically devoid of any red slip in its decoration. The paste has crystalline grains in true Tesuque fashion, which accounts for the ripples on the polished bare-paste underbody.

The interior of the pottery bowl is slipped in traditional Tesuque cream-colored clay and fully stone-polished. A black guaco was applied for the design which is a bold design, divided in the middle, in a mirror-reflection fashion.

The wall of the interior features weather related elements—clouds, rain, wind—arranged rather haphazardly amongst themselves. Above the featured designs is a pair of framing lines which, in typical Tesuque fashion, does not feature ceremonial breaks—a trait Tesuque stayed with when other pueblos used ceremonial breaks in the decoration. The underbody of the bowl is rounded off and the entire surface up to the rim is devoid of decoration, consisting only of the polished tan bare paste color. A red rim would technically qualify this to be a Polychrome bowl, but the design is monochromatic.

Condition: The bowl is now in excellent condition; however, it was broken cleanly in half and has been professionally restored to its original condition. The careful conservation will permit the bowl to be enjoyed by collectors in the future and has preserved it for posterity.

Provenance:  from a family collection from Huntsville, Texas

Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700 – 1940 by Jonathan Batkin