Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Olla with Black-on-white Design [SOLD]

Acoma Pueblo clay, as well as that from most pueblos, requires a tempering agent to be mixed with the clay in preparation for forming pottery.  Acoma potters gather broken pottery fragments from the grounds of the pueblo and grind them up to a powdery substance and that is then added to the clay as a temper agent.  The result of doing this is a continuation of the life of a previous pot into the life of a new pot—resulting in an unbroken chain of continuity in the life of an Acoma pot. 

This Southwest Indian Pottery jar has designs that are quite similar to those on a jar in Dillingham’s book Acoma & Laguna Pottery, which he dates to 1900-1920.  This design is derived from designs on prehistoric pottery.  Pottery from this period was made for use at the pueblo and made to be sold to the large influx of tourists arriving on the Intercontinental rails.  There was a train stop directly at Laguna Pueblo and Acoma potters took advantage of that and brought their wares to be sold at Laguna.  This historic jar does not appear to have been used prior to being sold so it was probably one made for sale to a tourist on the train at Laguna Pueblo.

Condition:  this Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Olla with Black-on-white Design is in very good condition, with repairs of minor spalling

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from a collector in Colorado