Zia Pueblo Small Polychrome Olla with Zia Sun Symbol [SOLD]

Lois Medina comes from a talented family of potters.  Her mother, Sofia Medina, is certainly known by pottery collectors.  Her grandmother was Juanita Toribio Pino and great-grandmother was Rosalea Medina Toribio.  Her brother, Marcellus Medina, is an accomplished potter.

This miniature olla is decorated with a Zia Sun symbol on two sides and the traditional Zia bird on the other two sides.  The Zia Sun symbol was the inspiration for the New Mexico state flag a hundred years ago.

"When Lois began making pottery, her maternal grandmother, Juanita Toribio Pino, sat her down and shared their family traditions related to pottery: 'how it was created—the true meaning behind it.'  Grandmother Pino also gave Lois a bundle of 'tools, gourds, brushes, black stone [for painting].'  Lois saves these objects respectfully, explaining that they are too precious to use."  Schaaf, 2002.

Condition:  structurally in original condition with some minor slip flaking and one spot on red underbody with minor discoloration from removal of a previous tape but no loss of slip.

Provenance: from the collection of Katherine H. Rust

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