Acoma Sky City Polychrome Pottery Jar [SOLD]

This jar is signed in guaco paint on the underside Acoma Sky City N.M.  In pencil, however, is the following: September 19, 1954 To Estell from Maria Histia.  Estelle Hunt was the wife of Chief Sunny Sky (Clyde Hunt) of Acoma and they were owners of a trading post in Carlsbad, New Mexico, which they closed in 1977.  Presumably this jar was a gift from Acoma potter Mary Histia to Estelle Hunt in 1954.  There is no published record of a Maria Histia so perhaps Mary was known as Maria by the Hunts.

The jar is certainly of the quality of those by Mary Histia.  It sits straight, is thin-walled and was decorated with precision.  Designs within medallions are documented to Mary Histia.  There is a Mary Histia jar documented in Dillingham that features the same stepped elements as shown in orange in this jar.  In the Dillingham illustration, the four stepped elements are centered with a flower and in this jar they are centered with a propeller-like element. 

Condition: very good condition with only a few spall marks.

Reference: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham, School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, 1992.

Provenance:  from the estate of the former Chief Sunny Skies Trading Post, located on the main street in Carlsbad, New Mexico, for over 40 years and which was closed in 1977.  Chief Sunny Sky, whose other name was Clyde Hunt, was from Acoma Pueblo.  He was the son of Chief Big Snake (Edward Hunt) also of Acoma Pueblo.  This collection has remained in the family since the trading post was closed in 1977.