Zia Pueblo Polychrome Large Storage Jar [SOLD]

Thanks to Harlow and Lanmon, Zia pottery of the late 1800s and early 1900s is well documented, with numerous photographs of some of the potters and their pottery (see an example below of Harviana Pino Toribio). Among the well documented potters is Harviana Pino Toribio, the potter of this storage jar. The determination that Toribio was the potter of this jar is based on photographed jars made by her in the 1930s and 1940s that appear in Harlow and Lanmon.

The red birds on this jar are very similar to those on jars illustrated in the book and the black birds with fan-like tails are almost identical to those published. The red birds have small heads with oval pointed ears and two-part tail feathers with rounded black caps at their ends as similar ones illustrated by Harlow and Lanmon.

There are two continuous wide rainbow bands encircling the jar. The red birds occupy the space below the bands and black birds occupy the space above the rainbow bands. The flying black birds on this jar appear to be in serious flight, with determination. They are almost identical to the published ones.

Condition: There are a few areas where some of the paint has been abraded but they are not significant. It is to be expected that a jar of this size and age would have some areas evidencing wear. The integrity of the vessel is outstanding.

Below Image Source:  The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow & Dwight P. Lanmon. Page 311, Fig. 14.123. Harviana Pino Toribio at a Santa Fe Indian Market , ca. 1943, courtesy Elsie Pino, Zia Enrichment Library, no. 80/092.  Notice the storage jar at her feet.  The decoration, especially the bird symbology, is very similar to this vessel's.