Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Extraordinary Polychrome Jar

This is a classic historic San Ildefonso Pueblo polychrome jar dating to c. 1890-1900. It showcases the defining formal, material, and iconographic characteristics of transition period pottery from the Tewa tradition.

The body features a rag-wiped cream slip covering the midbody and neck, exhibiting subtle crazing and authentic patina/wear consistent with late 19th-century pieces. The underbody features unpainted, burnished tan clay with a concave base typical of historic water jars (ollas). Overlaying the tan clay is a stone-polished red band separating the painted design and the underbody clay. The rim is a polished red clay that extends slightly down into the neck of the jar.

The vessel is divided into two clear horizontal design bands separated by a pair of framing lines. The upper shoulder or neck features repeating geometric and floral/leaf motifs painted in black line-work and red mineral slip. Resting on the framing line is a series of zigzag double black outline features filled with red slip except for thin black outlined cream leaves. Standing upright are black leaves in the low part of the triangles.

The main body designs are divided into distinct panel compartments by vertical black lines ending in stylized tadpole / teardrop / black-headed stems, possibly  representing rain or water indicators. Inside the red panels are prominent abstract designs, including tip-to-tip arrows on most of the elements, but two remaining sections differ in designs. One contains a double-bar feature possibly representing a dragonfly. The other has a pair of black hooks possibly representing bird heads. All these symbols are closely tied to requests for rain, fertility, and cosmic order.

During the late 19th century (c. 1880-1900), San Ildefonso potters were refining polychrome pottery using natural clays and mineral pigments for black paint. This pre-dates the Black-on-black style pioneered later in the 1910s-1920s by Maria and Julian Martinez, making these earlier polychrome ollas highly collectible and historically significant examples of functional Tewa ceramic art.

The overall design concept is remarkable in its complexity, boldness, and artistic layout. The artist who painted this jar was remarkable in design concept and execution. The jar is beautifully presented.

Condition: this Historic San Ildefonso Pueblo Extraordinary Polychrome Jar has had some professional repairs that are not evident without Black Light examination.

Provenance: The current owner purchased the jar from Sherwood's Spirit of America, Santa Fe.

Recommended Reading: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 by Jonathan Batkin

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, San Ildefonso Pueblo, Historic Pottery