Santo Domingo Polychrome Olla [R]

Made circa 1920, this vessel exhibits the classic traits of Santo Domingo Polychrome. The neck interior is red-slipped, with a black rim top. The under body is stone-polished bare paste with a one-inch rag-wiped red band. The cream/off-white slip is rag-wiped bentonite with black vegetal designs, all of which are broken with one vertically oriented ceremonial break.

The neck of the vessel displays a graceful curve that flares out at the rim. Black triangular designs point upward from the shoulder of the vessel, leaving the undecorated cream slip appearing to be a tulip design. Below the shoulder rectangular blocks cut with cross diagonal lines feature four ovoid elements outlined in black.

This would easily be a $4500 retail value vessel were it not for some slip damage to the area midway of the body to the base, mostly confined to one side of the vessel. This is a wonderful opportunity for a collector to add a piece of beauty to one’s collection at a very reasonable price.