Historic Laguna Pueblo Jar with Rare Interior Glaze c.1899

This elegantly formed handled jar is a rare and historically significant example of Laguna Pueblo pottery from around 1899, a period marked by dynamic cultural exchange and artistic innovation at the Pueblo. With its graceful globular form, refined proportions, and unusual glazed interior, the jar serves both as a utilitarian object and a record of a unique moment in Laguna's ceramic history.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Laguna Pueblo was one of the more outward-facing and progressive of the Rio Grande Pueblos. The Spanish mission established there in the late 1600s brought sustained contact with the outside world, introducing a more cosmopolitan element to daily life. Laguna's proximity to the Santa Fe Railway and its increasing visibility to traders, anthropologists, and collectors helped position it as a point of intersection between tradition and adaptation. Pottery from this era reflects strong aesthetic and technical influences from neighboring Acoma Pueblo, with which Laguna shares deep cultural and familial ties. This jar, with its balanced proportions and precise design, reflects that relationship, particularly in its fine linework, mineral black paint, and subtle use of red slip.

The vessel is beautifully proportioned. The base and the base of the neck are nearly equal in diameter, lending the form a sense of visual unity that is further enhanced by the rich red slip applied to both the interior of the neck and the underside of the jar. A stepped ridge just above the shoulder creates a graceful transition to the neck, where a pair of small, well-modeled handles are positioned in perfect symmetry. The bold black-painted design covers the body of the jar, continuing over the handles in an uncommon and thoughtful gesture.

One of the most distinctive features of this jar is its interior glaze, which is rarely seen in Pueblo pottery. In 1899, Josephine Foard, a woman from Delaware, moved to Laguna with the intent of helping Pueblo potters create more marketable and practical vessels for non-Native buyers. She introduced commercial glaze and a second firing process to seal the interiors, protecting them from staining and structural wear. Although this eliminated the natural porosity that allowed traditional water jars to cool through evaporation, it increased the vessels' durability and appeal to the emerging tourist and collector markets. Foard even adapted bread ovens at the Pueblo to accommodate this new firing method, creating a brief yet important chapter in the evolution of Pueblo ceramics.

This very jar is published on page 100 of Southwestern Indian Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni by Hayes and Blom, where it is described as a "true piece of pottery history." Although the book misattributes the jar to Acoma, its form, glaze, and provenance clearly point to Laguna. A copy of the book will accompany the purchase, offering the new collector a chance to reflect on this historical misattribution.

With its rare glazed interior, connection to Josephine Foard's pioneering efforts, and documented publication history, this jar is more than just a beautiful example of Pueblo artistry. It is a compelling piece of cross-cultural history from the American Southwest.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Historic Laguna Pueblo Jar with Rare Interior Glaze c.1899 was originally from Allan Hayes Collection and now is being offered from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery.

Recommended Reading: Southwestern Indian Pottery: Anasazi to Zuni by Hayes and Blom

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Acoma Pueblo, Historic Pottery, Laguna Pueblo, Ka'waika