Polychrome Storage Jar [SOLD]

This excellent storage jar was made at Tesuque Pueblo around 1880. The wider base and globular body with a wide mouth opening are traits of a storage jar rather than an olla. The lack of water damage attests to its use for storage of dry goods.

Tesuque polychrome vessels generally are black on cream but get the polychrome designation because of the red rim and red band below the decorated panel. The stone-polished cream slip predated a later rag-wiped slip.

The wavy line between vertical parallel lines is exclusively a Tesuque element of decoration. The wavy line around the neck and the free-floating elements on the body are very Tesuque in style. The mirror-image designs divided by a wavy line feature rain cloud elements atop Kiva step elements. Three pairs of double framing lines add a boldness to the decoration. Note that the framing lines do not contain ceremonial breaks, a tradition followed by Tesuque potters since the mid-1700s.

Excellent condition.