Polychrome Zia Olla with Native Repair [SOLD]

This is a very traditional 19th century Zia Pueblo polychrome olla with a very bold design. The 3 birds are bigger than life and command one's attention. The crowns on their heads add an importance to their character. They exude a regal appearance, as if to say "who is more important than I?"

This jar (as with all Zia jars) incorporates techniques used for six centuries-specifically the use of crushed basaltic lava as temper. The use of the dark brown and orange mineral paints on the white slip offers a visually pleasing contrast. The wide red band underneath the design area is indicative of late 19th and early 20th century pieces.

The jar is in very good condition. There are no significant rim chips, but there is wonderful ethnographic wear at the rim. There is a native repair just below the rim where piñon pitch has been used to fill in a small hole. Repairs of this nature are so typical when jars are needed for continued use. Sometimes, hide strips were tied around the rim of a jar to hold it together if there were rim cracks. In this jar, it appears that a small hole existed just below the rim and some of the external surface of the rim was missing. There was no chip missing from the rim, however. Ethnographic wear and native repairs add so much to the appeal of a jar. This one has a very rich patina throughout the vessel.

This is a fine example of an early jar that was used extensively at the pueblo before someone bought it from the owner. It is a very collectible piece.

Provenance: Estate of Richard M. Howard