Acoma Polychrome Small Jar with Inwardly Curving Rim [SOLD]

When I was preparing to open the gallery in Albuquerque Old Town, which opened on 9 September 1978, I was making frequent trips to the New Mexico pueblos to purchase pottery because that was the main feature in those days.  Juana Leno was one of my very favorite potters at that time and I visited her and purchased pottery from her on a frequent basis. I don’t recall that she ever came into town to sell to me. I always went to Acoma Pueblo to purchase from her.

This jar is typical of the very fine work she produced.  She was an excellent potter and painter of designs. The bird under the arched rainbow is repeated three times around the vessel.  The rainbow is comprised of black and white checkerboards, black triangles and split rectangles. Snugly next to each bird is a pair of black flower stems.  Every design on the jar was executed in black pigment with the exception of the birds, the bodies of which were painted with orange slip.  Each bird is sitting on a floral leaf as if ready to pick seeds from the plant.  The birds have open mouths in anticipation of the treat. The jar is typical of the fine quality of Juana’s work.

Condition: this Acoma Polychrome Small Jar with Inwardly Curving Rim is in very good condition

Provenance: from a gentleman in New Mexico

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Artist Image Source: unknown