Kewa Pueblo Traditional Historic Chile Bowl [R]

This Kewa Pueblo historic traditional chile bowl is an early 20th century one that has all the attributes that would make one believe, which we do, that it dates to the 1930s.  The patina is richly dark on the exterior and there is absolute evidence on the interior that it was used as a serving bowl.

The design on the exterior is the very traditional and favored ovals surrounded by black and framed in diagonal lines.  The rim is black and there is a ceremonial line break through the entire design band. The name Marie (indistinguishable) Garcia is lightly scratched into the clay body in the area of the red underbody. This is an ownership claim, not necessarily the name of the maker.  When bowls of food are taken to the plaza for a ceremony, the ownership of the bowl is clearly indicated so it is returned to the proper person.

All of those traits easily convince one that the bowl was made strictly for use in a pueblo home and not intended to be sold.  Bowls made to be used at the pueblo were made for the pleasure of the user, with her favorite design. It is these details that make such bowls of such interest to collectors.  

Condition: this Kewa Pueblo Traditional Historic Chile Bowl is in very good condition

Provenance: from a gentleman in Santa Fe

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