Historic Acoma Pueblo Polychrome Olla with Heartline Deer [SOLD]

One generally associates the use of “heartline deer” with pottery from Zuni Pueblo and that is most likely the origin. The fact that it appears on Acoma Pueblo pottery has been explained in a number of fashions by a number of contemporary Acoma potters. Deer designs have been documented on Acoma pottery as early as 1880, but those deer do not feature heartline elements.

Some potters at Acoma have indicated that Lucy Lewis was the first Acoma potter to produce heartline deer on Acoma pottery. She did this around 1950 at the encouragement of Gallup, New Mexico Indian art dealer Katie Noe. Lewis did not use it until gaining permission from Zuni to do so. Other potters at Acoma have stated that the heartline deer is a traditional Acoma design; however, there is no documented example to prove this.

Even if the heartline deer motif is not of Acoma origin, potters at Acoma have expressed that it does have meaning for them. It is said to represent life and it has a spiritual connection to deer and going hunting for deer.

Here we have a beautiful very large Acoma jar with traditional Acoma geometric, fine-line and bird designs that also incorporates four magnificent heartline deer, two of which are looking forward and two with their heads looking to the rear.

The design field of the jar has been divided into three horizontal bands—the top band encircles the neck, the next band encircles the mid body and includes the heartline deer, and the third band encircles the underbody. The neck and underbody bands contain bird parts—notice the eye—and traditional fine-line designs.

Based on information regarding the first use of heartline deer on Acoma pottery to be around 1950, then this jar must date to around that time. It is large and beautiful and in very good condition with only some minor abrasion to the painted areas.

For more information on the use of heartline deer on Acoma pottery, see “Acoma & Laguna Pottery” by Rick Dillingham.