Exquisite Cochiti Pueblo Canteen [SOLD]

Historic pottery of the 1880-1900 periods at Cochiti Pueblo can best be described as spherical. The jars, bowls, canteens and figurines all featured very spherical shapes. The canteen-like vessels were an innovative form that developed at Cochiti. Their round bodies had an opening at the top.

Collections made for the Smithsonian in 1879-1880 illustrate that most potters at Cochiti Pueblo were making figurine pottery, not bowls, canteens or ollas. Figurative pottery at Cochiti has continued to predominate today. It is unusual to find vessel shapes from the 19th and 20th centuries. Pottery making was never quite as vital at Cochiti as a source of income as it was at some of the other pueblos, particularly because of the well-known quality of the Cochiti drums, for which there was always a good market. Also, geographically Cochiti was not on the tourist trail in the late 19th century.

This late 19th century pottery canteen was constructed in the traditional coil method using native regional clay, and slipped in rag-wiped cream-colored clay. A horned toad* in relief is perched on top of the canteen. The black floral decorations were executed in bee weed vegetal paint. The spout is upturned to prevent spillage. Two handles provide for a way to hang the canteen.

Double framing lines at the base of the decorated area and double framing lines around the spout are divided by ceremonial breaks. The base of the vessel is stone-polished natural clay devoid of slip. A wide red band is wiped around the body just below the framing lines at the base.

It appears that some conservation reconstruction has occurred on one of the handles, but not on any other parts of the canteen. It is in very good condition.

*Erroneously called "horny toads," horned lizards are peculiar, spiny, ant-eating lizards unlike any other lizards in North America.