Acoma Pueblo Heartline Deer Pottery Jar by Lucy Lewis [SOLD]

This Acoma Pueblo pottery jar by Lucy Lewis presents a row of heartline deer casually walking around the perimeter of the jar.  The jar was first covered in white slip from rim to underside and designed with four heartline deer figures.   Each deer has its head high, tail up, eye open and an arrow-tipped line from its mouth to its heart.  No other decorations interfere with these four deer.  They command the entire surface of the jar.  

The heartline deer is accepted as a traditional design from Zuni Pueblo, having been used on pottery for a hundred years.  It has been stated that Lucy Lewis liked the design and asked Zuni Pueblo leaders if she could have permission to use it on her pottery. Apparently, she was granted permission to do so.

The jar has a black rim, below which is a thin black framing line.  Neither the rim nor framing line has a ceremonial line break.  There is no framing line at the bottom of the jar. The jar is signed Lucy M. Lewis Acoma, N. MEX.

Lucy continued throughout her life to make pottery in the traditional way; digging and preparing clay, grinding potsherds for temper; coiling the clay into a vessel shape, making her paints from plant and mineral elements, and firing the finished vessels in an open outdoor handmade kiln.  This jar was certainly made in that fashion.  Judging by the quality of the work on this jar, it is estimated to date to the mid-twentieth century.

Lucy Martin Lewis had a long and illustrious life.  She was born around 1898 and passed away on March 12, 1992 at a supposed age of 93. Her year of birth is not known. She spent nearly all her life atop the high mesa of Acoma Pueblo, making pottery since the age of 7. She is largely responsible for the revival of Mimbres black-on-white pottery designs which are more than 1,000 years old. She was famous, as well, for her exquisite polychrome designs and her fine-line and lightning designs.

Condition: structurally in excellent condition.  Minor abrasions to the black pigment on the deer.

Provenance: this Acoma Pueblo Heartline Deer Pottery Jar by Lucy Lewis is from the collection of a resident of Arizona

Recommended Reading: Lucy M. Lewis: American Indian Potter by Susan Peterson

Relative Links: Acoma Pueblo, Pueblo Pottery, Lucy Martin Lewis