Historic Polychrome Santa Ana Pueblo Terrace Rim Bowl [SOLD]

This polychrome bowl from Santa Ana Pueblo is a striking example of its ceramic tradition, distinguished by its terraced rim and layered use of color. The bowl features a wide beige band encircling the rim, subtly textured and true to the pueblo's characteristic matte finish. A richly painted design band wraps around the body, filled with red pigments and outlined in narrow brown lines. Negative open spaces near the center of the motifs provide visual relief and balance.

The bowl's exterior is slipped in a soft beige tone, while the interior is entirely coated in red slip. The small base is painted in raw sienna, grounding the piece with a warm, earthy tone. True to Santa Ana pottery, the vessel is made from a paste containing abundant sand temper, visible in the surface texture. The painted decoration includes mineral-derived red and brown pigments, creating a truly polychrome effect.

While not highly polished, the bowl's matte surface and nuanced palette of red, brown, and sienna on beige offer a sophisticated harmony that speaks to Santa Ana's understated aesthetic. The double-line framing at the top and bottom of the design band adds a final note of refinement to this beautifully composed piece.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: This Historic Polychrome Santa Ana Pueblo Terrace Rim Bowl is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery.

Recommended Reading: THE POTTERY OF SANTA ANA PUEBLO by Francis H. Harlow, et. al. Publisher: Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe

TAGS:  Southwest Indian Pottery, Santa Ana Pueblo