Pitcher with Handle [SOLD]

An extraordinary jar from Tesuque Pueblo with a plethora of serpent-like creatures throughout the decorated area.

Construction of the vessel is typical: coil formed, stone polished, rippled underbody, red rim and red banding. The flat base and the addition of a handle suggest that it was made for use in a Spanish-American home in Santa Fe, as were many vessels between 1880 and 1900. The handle suggests its use as a pitcher.

The red rim suggests a date of 1880, as it gave way to the use of black paint at that time. A photograph of Santa Fe dealer, Jake Gold, taken in 1880, with a large selection of Tesuque pottery, shows several examples of vessels with handles such as this one. After about 1890, the demise of Tesuque's beautiful pottery was well along as the demand for smaller souvenir-type pottery grew to satisfy the needs of tourists.

Fracture lines but no repair or restoration. Minor rim chip.