Zia Pueblo Four-color Rainbow Jar, circa 1880s [R]

Rainbow arcs appeared on Zia historic pottery primarily from 1880 to 1930.  Rainbow arcs are undulating bands around a jar’s mid-body, often in red outlined in black, and less often in ochre outlined in black.  This jar has the two-color bands parallel.  Attached to the bands are capped triangles filled with black parallel lines.

Birds began to appear on Zia Pueblo jars as early as 1820 and have continued to today.  They became more prominent beginning in the 1870s, usually associated with floral patterns and rainbow arcs as in this jar. The birds on top of the rainbow arcs have red bodies with black outlines and yellow wing feathers with black outlines.  They have the typical round eyes but atypical polka dots on their heads and a series of dots on their bodies.

The birds under the rainbow arcs have yellow bodies outlined in black and red wing feathers outlined in black, the opposite of the other birds.  They have round eyes but totally black heads.  Each has a white circle on its body outlined with polka dots and more dots in the circle.

The red birds above the arcs are clutching the stems of a flower plant and the birds below the arcs are resting on the lower framing line with plants in front of them.  There is a multitude of design throughout the jar.  It is an absolutely beautiful jar.

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow and Dwight P. Lanmon.  This book is currently not available from Adobe Gallery

Condition: structurally in excellent condition with evidence of extensive prior use

Provenance: from a collector in Colorado to whom we sold this jar in 2007 and now have back for sale again.