Very Large Storage Jar by Evelyn Cheromiah [SOLD]

Evelyn Cheromiah's Masterpiece: Her Largest Pottery Jar of Laguna Pueblo

and its Journey to ‘Best of Show' at the 1976 New Mexico State Fair

This extraordinary pottery jar certainly must be the largest one ever made by Evelyn Cheromiah of Laguna Pueblo. We purchased pottery from Evelyn for years during our Albuquerque gallery days, but never did she bring us one as large as this. It was probably made specifically for entrance in the New Mexico State Fair in 1976. That was fortunate because it was awarded "Best of Show" at the Fair that year. The award ribbon accompanies the jar.

The jar expresses its size by rising from the base in an expansive way to a high shoulder that reaches almost 18 inches in diameter. The clay then rolls over and rises to a vertical rim. Except for the short area of rust color clay at the bottom, the design fills the area all the way to the rim.

The design is based on five large diamonds that touch as they travel around the body. In each diamond is a tightly drawn overall geometric pattern with paddle motifs and delicate hatching. Separating the five diamond patterns is a pair of intricate fine lines that cross into small squares or diamonds. These are capped at top and bottom with rain clouds. The design on this jar is the same one that Evelyn used on a smaller jar featured in Rick Dillingham's book "Acoma & Laguna Pottery" on page 198. The amount of cross hatching in the pattern is remarkable. The jar is signed E. Cheromiah, Laguna, N.M. underneath.

Pottery production had declined at Laguna Pueblo in the early 20th century, largely because the men were being employed by the railroad, thereby providing cash income for the families. It was then no longer necessary for the women to make pottery for sale to tourists. They could, and did, purchase pottery from potters at Acoma Pueblo for use in their households. By the mid-20th-century, men and women were employed by the uranium mines on the pueblo lands, so there continued to be no need to produce pottery for sale or for their own use.

Evelyn Cheromiah was an exception. She was one of the few to continue making pottery. In the 1970s, she received a federal grant to teach pottery making to others at the pueblo, thus sparking revival in pottery production at Laguna. Still, today, there are only a few potters there.

Condition: very good condition with some minor surface abrasions

Provenance: this Very Large Storage Jar by Evelyn Cheromiah is from the collection of a client from Santa Fe

Reference: Dillingham, Rick. Acoma & Laguna Pottery

TAGS: Laguna Pueblo, Lee Ann Cheromiah, Mary Cheromiah-Victorino, Modern Pueblo Pottery, Evelyn Cheromiah