Acoma Pueblo Large Black-on-white Design Olla [SOLD]

Drew Lewis (Andrew H. Lewis, Sr.) is a son of Lucy M. Lewis, and, therefore, brother of Ivan, Emma, Dolores, Ann and Carmel, a family of extraordinary potters. Drew started making pottery around 1980 and specializes in Anasazi Revival Black-on-white pieces.  It is not known if Drew is still actively producing pottery.  It would not be unusual for him to be productive even at his age of mid-80s.  When he was a young man, it was not acceptable for men to become potters.  That was a woman’s task.  Drew chose to learn the fundamentals from his famous mother and it eventually led to a career for him, starting in the 1980s.

Drew has followed all traditional aspects of pottery production.  He uses native clay, builds the vessel with coils of clay, paints with bee weed, and fires in traditional methods.  Many of his designs are inspired by ancestral patterns.  His painting is precise and designs well organized.

This jar was expertly constructed.  It has a high shoulder and long graceful expanding wall structure leading to a slight curve above the widest diameter to a short neck.  The design is continuous from bottom to top without division lines.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: from a collector from Oklahoma

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham