Historic Kewa Pueblo Pottery Jar with Four-Leaf Floral Design by the Aguilar Sisters [SOLD]

Kewa - Santo Domingo Pueblo has a tradition of strong and bold designs on its pottery.  Potters from there have always approached designs in a manner of repetition of the same element throughout the vessel, yet the repetition is not monotonous but is one that evokes admiration.

This jar has three identical floral elements, each with split leaves and a single black dot at the intersection of the leaves.  The only other element that might be considered a design is the group of four solid black parallel lines contained by a pair of external dotted lines, all six of which run vertically from the rim to the base of the design panel.  They serve as end-items to contain the top and bottom framing lines that have ceremonial line breaks.  The black rim also has a ceremonial line break.

The creator of this jar was extremely talented, and an excellent design artist.  The jar is beautifully shaped and the cream slip was expertly applied.    There is one black line of paint that apparently ran while applying one of the lower framing lines, but that is part of the original preparation and does not affect the beauty of the vessel.  It is an overall excellent jar with strong visual beauty.

Condition: this Historic Kewa Pueblo Pottery Jar with Four-Leaf Floral Design by the Aguilar Sisters is in very good condition, showing normal wear from age.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Oklahoma

Recommended Reading:  A River Apart: the Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos by Valerie Verzuh, et al.

Relative Links: Santo Domingo Pueblo, pottery, Felipita Aguilar Garcia, Asunción Aguilar Caté