Acoma Pueblo Black on White Canteen with Turtle [SOLD]

The original purpose of pottery canteens was for the men to take to the fields while they were working during the day.  Water evaporating through the walls of the porous clay would cool the water in the canteen as efficiently as would putting it in a refrigerator.  What potter and what pueblo were responsible for introducing canteens to the collector market is not known but collectors have accepted them and adopted them into their pottery collections.  

One of the potters who was very adept at making canteens was Jessie Garcia (1910-1999).  I never thought about how one would be constructed but assume it would be like making a jar—starting with coiling from the base and ending up at the spout.  The handles would be added to the body while the clay was still moist as would additional items such as the turtle.

This canteen was made in 1965 and entered into the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial that year.  It was awarded First Prize and sold for $30. The judge was Dr. Bertha Dutton, who, for ten years, was Director of the Museum of Navajo Ceremonial Art (now the Wheelwright Museum).

Jessie Garcia was considered by Rick Dillingham (author of Acoma & Laguna Pottery—see link below) as one of the three most important 20th century potters from Acoma Pueblo, along with Lucy Lewis and Marie Z. Chino.  She was the mother of Anita Lowden and Stella Shutiva and the mother-in-law of Sarah Garcia, all three of whom are recognized as outstanding potters. In 1941, Museum of New Mexico director Kenneth Chapman donated a Jessie Garcia seed jar to the Indian Arts Fund.  The Indian Arts Fund purchased a Jessie Garcia bowl from Mrs. William J. Lippincott, and then, in 1966, the Indian Arts Fund made a direct purchase of a bowl from Jessie at Santa Fe Indian Market. These acquisitions indicate the esteem that the Indian Arts Fund had for the work of this potter.

Condition: this Acoma Pueblo Black on White Canteen with Turtle is in very good condition with minor spalling of the surface

Provenance: The purchaser of the canteen from the Gallup Inter-tribal Indian Ceremonial was a Medical Doctor and the canteen has been in his family since.  It is now from his family which is downsizing its Southwest Indian Pottery collection.

Reference: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham