Mojave Tall Neck Jar with Serpent [SOLD]

Native Americans of all tribes have a deep respect for snakes and reptiles in general and it is not unusual for them to use them in some form of decorations on pottery.  Elmer Gates has prominently displayed a diamondback serpent surrounding the neck of this jar.

Generally, Mojave men were not potters, but Elmer Gates, who was born in 1929 and lived in Poston, Arizona, on the Fort Mohave Reservation, was an exception. He had learned to make pottery from his aunt. He then continued studying all styles of southwestern pottery and working with various techniques. He sold his work at the Colorado River Indian Tribal Museum in the 1970s. Gates was so confident in his chosen profession that he taught a number of young artists of Mojave and Maricopa tribes, as well as non-natives, including Santa Fe ceramicist Rick Dillingham.

Condition:  This jar is in very good condition with no apparent damage.  It is signed E. Gates.

Provenance:  from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

Recommended Reading: Mojave Pottery, Mojave People: The Dillingham Collection of Mojave Ceramics