This double-chamber pottery vessel most probably pre-dates the advent of Zuni Polychrome in the mid 1850s. It is entirely black on cream, devoid of any red in the decoration. The simplicity of design would further substantiate this dating.

The exquisite brown birds on the vessel body, with their long and graceful tails, were practically created with a single stroke of the paintbrush—head, tail and wing flow as if one. The out-curving rim of each chamber is painted with brown paint. A single flower appears on each end of the vessel.

Except for loss of slip and some painted design, the only damage to this piece is loss of rim on each chamber.

There are a number of this type vessel in the collections of the Smithsomian. James and Matilda Coxe Stevensen called them salt containers.

The Zuni men annually hike from the pueblo to a salt lake some four days away. After elaborate ceremonies at the lake, they gather salt in fabric sheets and take it back to the pueblo. Containers such as this are then used as repositories for the salt.

Provenance: The property of Philip Winship Davis, from the collection of his grandfather, George Parker Winship. This Double-Chamber Rectangular Pottery Vessel was part of the exhibit 1800s Winship Collection show September 7, 2005 until October 7, 2005 presented at Adobe Gallery Santa Fe.