This is an exceptionally deep dough bowl from Zia Pueblo, created most probably in the 1920s. This fine piece was coil-formed in native clay with the addition of crushed basaltic temper. The underbody was stone-polished over the bare paste in a warm brick red color. A narrow red band was wiped on as a dividing line between the bare paste underbody and the decorated upper body. The design field was slipped in a creamy white slip on which was prominently displayed the traditional design seen on almost every Zia dough bowl.

It is quite obvious that this bowl was used extensively at the pueblo for mixing bread dough, as there is some dried dough on the exterior of the bowl. It is removable, should someone want it done, but I have chosen to leave it as evidence of use. The bowl is in very good condition, with only some evidence of slip abrasions here and there.

Provenance: Cody Wyoming Collection. This Large Zia Polychrome Dough Bowl was part of the exhibit CODY, WYOMING POTTERY COLLECTION June 10, 2006 until September 10, 2006 and BOWLS: A Pueblo Necessity December 15, 2006 until December 31, 2006 presented at adobe gallery Santa fe.