Historic Ohkay Owingeh Red-on-tan Serving Bowl [SOLD]

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo has a long history of producing plainware pottery of the most striking beauty. There are several vessel shapes and styles that are traditional to the potters of the pueblo. Large storage jars are globular in shape and traditionally slipped with red clay on the upper half and unslipped on the lower half. Large dough bowls are generally slipped in the same manner, with red slip on the upper half and unslipped on the lower.

Serving bowls tend to be of two styles.  Both styles feature concave rims that flare out at the top.  Some of these have red slip applied to the top few inches on the exterior of the rim and others on the interior of the rim.  Those with red slip on the interior, such as this bowl, generally have a rim that flares outward slightly more than the rim of one decorated on the exterior.

This bowl is in keeping with the style made at Ohkay Owingeh since the early 19^th century and perhaps even earlier.  This particular bowl dates to the late 1800s or early 1900s.

Condition:  The bowl has been repaired to its original beauty.  There were three cracks that have been professionally restored to bring the bowl back to its original condition.

Provenance:  From a family in Espanola, NM

Recommended Reading:  Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 by Jonathan Batkin