Laguna Pueblo Four Color Jar with Handles [SOLD]

Masterful Artistry:

An In-depth Analysis of a Laguna Pueblo Polychrome Jar

This four-color polychrome jar was made by an unknown Laguna Pueblo potter, most likely during the first quarter of the twentieth century. Laguna pottery is quite similar to Acoma pottery—so much so, in fact, that it is often incorrectly identified as Acoma pottery. There are certain motifs and characteristics that allow us to identify certain pieces as having been made at Laguna, and many of them are used prominently and repeatedly on this jar.

The first distinct Laguna elements on the neck of this jar are the plants with red and orange berries. These are documented as traditional Laguna designs, ones that were carried on with the group of Laguna potters when they moved to Isleta Pueblo. Another design is that of the split-leaf elements on the lower body. These appear in the brown triangular elements and the orange oval elements, both of which are split through their middles, resulting in an architectural nature.

The long neck on the jar was beautifully painted with deep orange and red pigments—orange triangles hanging from the upper farming line, and red triangle elements resting on the framing line at the base of the neck. To let your eyes move down to the bulbous body section will impress you with the complicated arrangements of a true master painter. The orange split leaves alternating to the right, then to the left completes the circle around the body. Below those are the beautiful dark brown split leaf elements with bulbous blossoms at the ends. Interspersed throughout the body are diagonal bands with miniature white dots showing through brown bands. Below these are brown parallel lines, possibly representing rain.

The lower body is polished red pigment, the rim is brown, and the interior of the neck is slipped in red clay several inches down into the vessel. There is a pair of handles at mid-body level accented with red dots.

The designs and the pigments used to achieve them are strong and eye-catching, and the vessel itself is similarly remarkable. Its shoulder is pronounced, making sharp curves inward and then up to a tall neck. The rim is flared outward, but in a subtle and effective manner. When one handles or views this gorgeous jar, they will undoubtedly be impressed by the skillful, confident work that went into its creation.

On the underside of the jar, there is a paper label stating: "Acoma with the very rare purple color, early 1900 (purdle?) $38.50."

Condition: very good condition with minor abrasions on the brown rim pigment

Provenance: this Laguna Pueblo Four Color Jar with Handles is  from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: Acoma & Laguna Pottery by Rick Dillingham

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