Beautiful Polychrome Water Jar from Laguna Pueblo [SOLD]

Refugees from Acoma, Zuni and other pueblos established Laguna Pueblo a few years after the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Its date of establishment was 1699. As a result, its pottery can be very similar to that of Acoma and Zuni Pueblos, and, for the most part, is indistinguishable from ceramics at Acoma, but not so much from that at Zuni except for similarity in design elements. Acoma and Laguna clay is similar but Zuni clay differs from that at those two pueblos.  Sometimes designs must be used as a guideline for distinguishing ceramics at Laguna. 

The hooked elements on the body of this jar, both those with red fine lines and black fine lines, are very similar to the Zuni Rain Bird design and is most likely the influence the potter drew upon for designing this jar.  The jar is a magnificent example of early 1900s Laguna Polychrome and the massive amount of fine lines is amazing in its careful application, a feat not easily accomplished. 

The vessel shape is exquisite with its high shoulder and long graceful neck.  The design covers almost the complete surface area with the exclusion of the red band at the bottom of the design.

Condition: when we accepted this jar on consignment we valued it at $6500 but after examining it with UV light and discovering a small area of repair at the neck with some overpaint, we have set the price at $5500.  The repairs certainly do not change the beauty of the jar.

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Provenance: from the collection of a family from Santa Fe which purchased it from Robert Nichols Gallery on Canyon Road in Santa Fe in the 1980s.