Ohkay Owingeh Historic Pottery Bowl with Wide Red Band

This medium-sized bowl from Ohkay Owingeh (formerly San Juan Pueblo) is a classic example of traditional Red-on-tan ware, a style known for its simplicity, elegance, and strong visual contrast. The upper half of the vessel is covered in a deep red slip, which has been highly polished by stone, while the lower portion remains a warm tan hue, also stone-polished to a smooth finish. The red slip forms a horizontal band that wraps around the upper body, emphasizing the bowl's rounded form.

The interior remains undecorated, revealing the natural clay body and highlighting the utilitarian function of the piece. Stretching across both red and tan surfaces are distinct fireclouds, which formed during outdoor firing. These markings add a layer of organic beauty to the bowl and are characteristic of traditionally fired Pueblo pottery.

The shape of the bowl is globular, and while it does not have the concave neck band often seen on similar forms, it does feature a gently curved neck profile, echoing the contours found on larger storage jars.  The cloud-like shape of this Pueblo pottery vessel's rim is a poignant symbol of water, a life-giving element so precious in the arid desert landscape.

Condition: very good condition with one small rim chip and a vertical crack, though the bowl remains stable.

Provenance: This Ohkay Owingeh Historic Pottery Bowl with Wide Red Band is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery.

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

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