20th Century Acoma Jar with Tularosa Design [SOLD]

Special Value Offer: The estate has suggested a 10% price reduction from $1950 to $1750.

Acoma Pueblo potters have claimed the inherited right to use designs of the earlier Puebloan groups that lived in the early Southwest. The designs of particular striking beauty are those, appropriated by 20^th-century Acoma potters, referred to as Tularosa Black-on-white. The Tularosa vessels date from A.D.1100 to 1250.  Acoma potters have been particularly involved with the use of these designs since the late 19th century.

The Tularosa Basin is located in the area east of the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico, mostly in Otero County. It lies between the Sacramento Mountains to the east and the San Andres and Oscura Mountains to the west. Notable features of the Tularosa Basin are White Sands National Monument, Trinity Site, and the Carrizozo lava flows.

This Acoma jar is an excellent example of the use of Tularosa patterning on a 20^th century vessel shape. The curvilinear scrolls that circumnavigate the body are flanked on the upper and lower extremities with rectangular and triangular stepped black-on-white designs. Throughout these designs are very fine hatching lines that fill the previously undecorated white areas. As was the Tularosa tradition, the design elements are close together, the solids are heavy, and hatching lines are very fine.

One of the first Acoma potters to revive prehistoric designs was Marie Z. Chino.  Some of hers were among the prize winners at the first Southwest Indian Fair in 1922.  Lucy Lewis introduced use of Mimbres designs.  Today, many potters use designs from the prehistoric cultures.

This jar has a beautiful symmetrical shape and a fluted rim.  The rim was left without design so as not to detract from its floral-style fluted waves.  A pair of twisted handles also were left without design to emphasize their twists of clay.

Condition: this 20th Century Acoma Jar with Tularosa Design is very good condition with some very minor paint abrasion

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance:  from the estate of Frances Sonnenberg passed through the family.