Historic Acoma Pueblo Long Neck Polychrome Jar, circa 1890s [SOLD]

It is accurate to state that, beginning in the late 1800s, potters began making more pottery for commercial purposes than they had before.  It was probably at that time that tall neck jars, like this one, began to appear.  Many of those, if not all, were made for the commercial market, to be sold either through merchants or by the potter herself.  Merchants in Santa Fe, Gallup, and Albuquerque served as the outlets for the potters’ wares, as was the rail stop at Laguna Pueblo for potters from Acoma and Laguna.  Large jars of the size of this one were probably meant for merchants, as they would not be convenient for rail passenger travel. 

A tall neck jar collected at Acoma in 1884 for the Bureau of American Ethnology could be the earliest of the historic period that they were made.  Most jars of this style were made between then and the 1890s. The wide dark red band, outlined in thin black lines, is a variation of a rainbow.  It has been stated that this dark red slip has not been used since circa 1900.  A potter recently said that the source of the deep red clay was no longer known.  All the design elements below the rainbow arches—the hachured triangular ones and the similar dark red ones—would appear to represent clouds and rain.  The strong black elements attached to and below the rainbow arches are generally accepted to be rain and cloud symbols.  Some of the triangles on the body are red and others are a deep orange color.

Orange appears again in the rectangular band that works itself around the neck.  A beautiful dark black element accents the neck in an almost Art Deco style.  Hachured lines in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal positions encircle the neck. Despite likely not serving as a water jar or storage vessel, the piece has acquired a gorgeous patina during its many years of existence.

The shoulder of the jar is above the midpoint of the vessel—another trait of late nineteenth century pottery jars.  The neck is symmetrical in its curve that flares at the rim.  The interior of the neck is deep red in coloration. The massive body of the vessel, topped by a graceful neck, makes a commanding statement.  Its form conveys boldness, elegance, and strength, and its design and coloration inspire similar thoughts. We’d like to roll back the clock to the time period during which this piece was made, and congratulate the potter for creating this masterpiece.

Condition: very good condition with wear patterns consistent with its age, and a single stabilized crack.

Provenance: this Historic Acoma Pueblo Long Neck Polychrome Jar, circa 1890s is from a private Colorado collection 

Reference: The Pottery of Acoma Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon. 2013, pp 349-353

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

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