Historic Acoma Pueblo Black on White OLLA [SOLD]

Pottery has always been a central feature of the Pueblo people, both for ceremonial and utilitarian purposes. Everything about the daily lives of the Pueblo people is of a religious nature. They do not look at jars such as this one as an "art object" as we do. To them, it is a utilitarian vessel or in some cases a ceremonial vessel. The fact that it is beautifully decorated is accepted as part of their history and their lives. Pottery is a sacred part of daily life.  It is a gift from Mother Earth to the Pueblo people.

Whether a jar was made for use by the potter in her home or whether it was made for sale to a tourist visiting the Pueblo is of no consequence. What are important to collectors are age, condition and beauty. Also important to Acoma potters is that potsherds of prehistoric or historic or even contemporary pottery are ground up and added to the clay for making a new pot. Every Acoma pot contains some part of an older pot. This provides a continuum to the two thousand year history of Acoma pottery.

The jar has a concave bottom with the painted Acoma, N.M and the initials HR.  In pencil is written $2.00, an indication of a circa 1930s or 1940s creation.This wonderful jar is full of beautiful traditional Acoma Pueblo designs. The potter chose to execute the design in a monochromatic black design on traditional white slip.

The jar was divided into three horizontal design areas—the neck band, shoulder, and body.  The neck design was divided into up and down alternating triangles. Those pointing upward carry a design of fine lines over a central white box with a brown element consisting of three connected lines, the upper one resembling clouds.  Those triangles pointing downward are basically filed with dark brown pigment surrounding a white box with a brown hook element over a feather shape in white.

The neck design is a 1-½-inch band containing dark brown triangles that alternate with white ones.  The body design was laid out in sections bordered on left and right and then divided diagonally on the inside.  Inside each of the triangles are individual several design elements created with dark brown triangles and parallel lines .  The lower portion of the olla has an orange slip in traditional Acoma manner. The underside is concave.

Condition: this Historic Acoma Pueblo Black on White OLLA is in very good condition with some abrasions, mostly at the rim.

Provenance: from the collection of a gentleman from Alaska

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

Relative Links: Southwest Indian Pottery, Historic Pottery, Acoma Pueblo