Acoma Pueblo Child Size Polychrome OLLA [R]

Most historic pottery vessels have an impact on the viewer—some more than others, but rarely is there one which does not impress. It is almost as being able to identify with the potter and be a witness to her pride in what she was doing. Producing magnificent pottery could not have been an easy task in the early 20th century when this jar was made, as household chores and family matters must have consumed many hours of a potter’s day, yet she found time to produce an object of beauty. We are lucky today to be able to enjoy the fruits of their talents and patience.

This small jar is literally covered with intricate and time-consuming designs.  The main design starts with a rectangular box of dark brown triangles on a white background which was then outlined with a larger rectangle filled with orange slip and the corners highlighted with parallel fine lines.  Attached to this rectangle are a pair of elaborate fans that inspire thoughts of peacocks. Each of the pair of fans was filled with cross-hatching and an orange triangle, and the whole outside tipped with dark brown feather tips.  Above and below the rectangle are stacked brown triangles, diagonal fine lines, and a pair of orange squares, all contained in a pair of brown spirals.

This design was repeated on front and back and separated with an elaborate spread of black outlined orange triangles spread upward and outward as ship’s sails.  There is an extraordinary amount of design on this small jar but it fits the scale perfectly—not too much, not too strong, but a visual delight. The jar dates to circa 1930s.

Condition: this Acoma Pueblo Child Size Polychrome OLLA is in very good condition for its age

Provenance: from a gentleman in Santa Fe

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham