This Kewa Pueblo polychrome olla features traditional rag-wiped bentonite slip, black rim around the top, and black double framing lines just under the rim. The main body is decorated in extremely bold design elements, which appear to float on the surface. The interior neck has been rag wiped with a red slip. The underside is concave.

According to Batkin, the unpublished notes of Kenneth Chapman recorded that a potter with the surname of Garcia invented this design between 1905 and 1910. Most assuredly, he was referring to Felipita Aguilar Garcia, one of three related potters who supplied Mr. Seligman of the Bernalillo Mercantile Co. with pottery of this shape and style for his clients. Apparently, Santo Domingo potter Monica Silva re-introduced this design in the 1930s or 1940s, and it has been associated with her since that time.

The vessel is in excellent condition. There is no evidence of repair, but it is possible that some paint conservation has occurred in two very small areas. This conservation is minimal, and not visible to the naked eye, but possibly reveals itself under UV examination, but this is not a definitive conclusion.

The smaller design cluster that appears to be rain clouds actually represents rains far off in four directions. The larger design motif represents the growth and seed propagation of plants resulting from the abundant rains.

Provenance: Delivered to us directly from a household at Laguna Pueblo.

Monica Silva (Photograph Source Unknown)

Reference and Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 (click here to view book details) page 105, by Jonathan Batkin. 1987, First Edition. The Taylor Museum of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. This book is very scarce/quite difficult to come by and truly an invaluable resource for the study of Historic Pueblo pottery. Paperback edition $215.00. by Jonathan Batkin. (This Out of Print Book Available from Adobe Gallery on a very limited basis).