Historic Tesuque Pueblo Rain God Figurine, circa 1900 [SOLD]

Tesuque Rain Gods, as we know them today—seated pottery figurine with a pottery jar in its lap—evolved around circa 1885 from earlier pottery figurines being made by potters at Cochiti, Tesuque and Nambe Pueblos.  The earlier Tesuque figurines were made with micaceous slip and could have evolved from ceremonial figures or altar figures; however, their eventual transformation to the tourist item they became is surely the result of Santa Fe merchants like Jake Gold and J. S. Candelario directing potters in what they needed for the curio market.

Around 1900, potters began substituting cream slip for the micaceous clay as a means to better paint design features on the figures—a clue that merchants were directing the show and telling potters to dress up the dolls to make them more interesting and more saleable.

Sculpted hair, painted cheeks, necklaces, earrings, and painted designs on the vessel were additives that occurred slightly before 1900 and have continued today.  This Rain God figurine is typical of those being made around 1900.  He is larger in size than those made later and his features more expressive, as if there was no rush to complete him so another could be started.  The mouth, nose and eyes are beautifully sculpted.

As the popularity of these pueblo "ceremonial gods" increased, so did the pressure on potters to make more and faster.  They then began making them smaller and with less detail.

This Tesuque Rain God is an exceptional one.  He has red cheeks, black hair, a painted necklace, pierced ears for earrings, design elements on his pot, and his hair tied up in a chonga behind his head.  His expression, with eyes almost closed and mouth open, is as if he is pleading with the Gods for rain.

Condition: structurally in excellent condition, with expected surface wear due to age.

Provenance: from a collection in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading:  When Rain Gods Reigned: From Curios to Art at Tesuque Pueblo, by Duane Anderson