Jemez Pueblo Polychrome Seed Jar with Turquoise Cab [SOLD]

Pueblo potters have much respect for the materials with which they work.  They consider the process of gathering clay and making pottery as a spiritual act and they offer their thanks to Mother Earth for giving them the materials and to other spiritual beings for giving them the talent to make an item.  Once a vessel is completed and fired successfully, they strongly believe that it has a life.  If the vessel cracks in firing, then it was meant to be.  One never assumes a successful firing and a potter does not set a price on an item before it is completed because that could result in a bad outcome. Mary Small has been quoted as saying: "When my pottery is finished, they are blessed.  They have power."  I'm sure she meant spiritual power but they also have visual power.

This small seed jar is typical of her fine work.  She has set a large turquoise cab on the top.  It is signed Mary Small on the underside.

Condition:  original condition

Provenance: from the Jeffrey Trent collection, Nevada

Recommended Reading: Southern Pueblo Pottery 2,000 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf