Diné (Navajo) Pottery Cooking Jar [SOLD]

C3579i-cooking.jpg

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Potter Once Known
  • Category: Modern
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: clay, piñon pitch
  • Size: 7-1/2” tall x 6-1/2” diameter
  • Item # C3579i
  • SOLD

The Navajo have traditionally made pottery for their own use. Pottery drums and pipes were made for ceremonial use and cooking pots and coffee pots and cups made for daily use. It was not until after World War II, when traveling resumed and highway construction commenced on the Navajo Reservation, that pottery production increased. Prior to that, only three paved roads bordered the reservation and none crossed into it, therefore there were no incentives to produce something for sale when there were no buyers.

 

As tourists began visiting the reservation, there became a need for inexpensive items for them to purchase as souvenirs: items less expensive than jewelry or rugs. The traders encouraged the women to make pottery to fill this need. Thus, we have the creation of a new marketable item.

 

The Diné have never painted designs on their pottery. It was considered bad to do so. It could cause a catastrophe such as an earthquake. Since the 1980s, we have seen rise to painted pottery, but only by a few potters. The more traditional ones still will not do it. It was only in the last couple of decades that potters even began the simple task of taking the rope around the neck and letting it slide down and become body decoration.

 

Jars such as this one were traditional household items.  It would have been used for cooking something on an open outdoor firethe reason for the small lower body so it could be snuggled into the fire.  There is no evidence that this one has been used for cooking so it was probably made to be sold.  The simple rope design around the neck is the traditional style of design used on older pottery.

 

Condition: the jar is in original condition

Provenance: from the Balcomb family collection

References:

Southwestern Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni by Allan Hayes and John Blom. Northland Publishing.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

 

Collections of Southwestern Pottery: Candlesticks to Canteens, Frogs to Figurines by Allan Hayes and John Blom. Northland Publishing.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery.

Potter Once Known
  • Category: Modern
  • Origin: Diné of the Navajo Nation
  • Medium: clay, piñon pitch
  • Size: 7-1/2” tall x 6-1/2” diameter
  • Item # C3579i
  • SOLD

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