Acoma Pueblo Lucy Lewis Polychrome Jar [SOLD]

Lucy Martin Lewis (1898-1992) continued throughout her life making pottery in the traditional way: digging and preparing clay, grinding potshards 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 is signed Lucy M. Lewis. Earlier, there was a time when she did not sign her pottery, identifying them only by their place of origin: Acoma, N. M. or Sky City, N. M. At that time, Lucy sold her pottery from a roadside stand on famous Route 66 for as little as a dollar or two. Today, they command significantly more.

I was recently told by a client that there was a time when Lucy signed her pottery with stick-figure Roadrunner figurines, which refered to the Roadrunner Clan.  I have not heard this before and would be interested if anyone has more information on this. The symbol looks like a K with the lower right leg extended through the letter in a continuing straight line.

This small jar is relatively thick-walled for Acoma pottery; however, it was beautifully formed.  The painted design was exquisitely applied and is very appropriate for the vessel shape.  The single design pattern fits a small jar better than one where the body and neck feature different designs.

Condition: this Acoma Pueblo Lucy Lewis Polychrome Jar is  in very good condition

Provenance: from a family collection from San Diego, California

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