Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Jar by Matriarch Lucy Lewis

Lucy Lewis: The Artistry and Aesthetics of an Acoma Pueblo Matriarch

This polychrome jar was made by Lucy Lewis, the influential Acoma Pueblo matriarch. Lewis made many small pots like this one during her long career, but each one is unique in some notable way. With this piece, the strength of the design stands out. The vessel itself was formed beautifully, which is to be expected of Lewis' work.

For the design choice to be placed on the body of the vessel, she chose a two-part application that is cleverly divided by a zigzag line, below which is a combination of squares, fine lines, clouds, and a spiral element, and above which are inverted triangles containing an orange inverted triangle and a rectangle containing a lightning bolt. The design components described here were then repeated four times around the vessel. The strength of the design suits that of the pigments' coloration, and the result is an immensely appealing jar.

The bottom of the jar is signed Lucy M. Lewis, Acoma.

Lucy Lewis (1898-1992) was one of the most widely respected potters from Acoma Pueblo. Lewis followed pueblo tradition in every step of pottery production—offering prayers of thanks to Mother Earth for the clay, taking only as much clay as she needed, working the clay with only her hands, forming the vessel from coils of clay, scraping the walls with tools fashioned from gourds, painting the vessel with slips and paints made from clay and vegetal sources and, finally, firing the finished pieces in a handmade outdoor kiln. Lewis was born around 1898 and passed away on March 12, 1992. She spent nearly all her life atop the high mesa of Acoma Pueblo, making pottery from the age of 8. She is largely responsible for the revival of Mimbres Black-on-white pottery designs, which are more than 1,000 years old. She was famous, as well, for her exquisite polychrome designs and her fine line and lightning designs.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Jar by Matriarch Lucy Lewis is from a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: LUCY M. LEWIS American Indian Potter by Susan Peterson

TAGS: Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo Pottery, Lucy Martin Lewis