Acoma Polychrome Geometric Design Water Jar [SOLD]

There has always been some question as to when potters started signing their name to pottery.  For decades, there was nothing to indicate potter or pueblo on earlier pieces.  Later, potters at Acoma started adding some form of Acoma, New Mexico to their work, then Acoma Sky City, then eventually a potter’s name.

The earliest “signature” could be considered the design used on pottery.  Families had designs that they preferred and that became known as the “signature” of that family.  One could look at a design and feel confident that a potter of a certain family made that item.

The next signature appears to have been only the addition of the name of the pueblo, such as Acoma, N. Mexico. Emma Lewis Mitchell of Acoma told Rick Dillingham that signatures began to appear around 1950.  Other potters have mentioned earlier or later dates. Dillingham, 1992

It seems reasonable to assume that tourist travels following the end of World War II would be a logical time to expect the appearance of signatures.

This jar has a printed paper label attached stating From the Pueblo of Acoma with 1920s-30s added by hand. That period may be a little early for this jar as it does have Acoma, N. Mexico on the underside, which would probably indicate a date at the end of the historic period, that is circa 1940.  The design is reminiscent of later pottery by members of the Chino family.

 Condition: very good condition with a nice ring sound

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from the collection of the John R. Elkins family of Aspen, Colorado

TAGS: pottery, Emma Lewis Mitchell, Rick Dillingham, Chino family