Acoma Pueblo Duck Effigy Pitcher [SOLD]

Lucy Lewis was one of the most widely respected potters of the 20^th century from her pueblo. This wonderful duck effigy pitcher is testimony to her talents.  The vessel was formed expertly and the painted design was applied to perfection.  The lines of the painted design are strong, straight, and perfectly balanced.  It is not an easy task to paint a design on a round surface using yucca-leaf for a paint brush. 

As is traditional, it was constructed of native Acoma clay and hand coiled, then sun-dried and sanded to a smooth surface, after which a white slip was applied to the entire vessel and polished to a high sheen. The design was painted over the slip, and the vessel was then fired.  There is no spalling of the clay so the pitcher was probably made before the 1960s when the Acoma clay was still abundant and without impurities.

Condition: The pitcher is in remarkable condition.

Recommended Reading: 14 Families in Pueblo Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from the collection of Katherine H. Rust