Prehistoric St. Johns Polychrome Large Bowl [SOLD]

St. Johns, Arizona, is a little bit south and west of Gallup, New Mexico, near the border that these two U.S. States share.  The Anasazi potters of St Johns have been credited with being first to make polychrome pottery during this 1175-1300 prehistoric period.  Prior to that occurrence, all pottery was black on white or black on red.  These potters produced the standard black on red on the interiors of bowls but added white on red to the exterior, culminating in adding the third color for a polychrome designation.  This was a profound change that continued for the next 200 years throughout New Mexico and Arizona.

The interior design of this bowl starts at the base with an unpainted square, probably representing Sipapu, the place of emergence.  From this center is attached a rectangular box on each of the four sides, each box containing a pair of right triangles and four small black dots.  To each of these is attached a graceful spiral black line in a wide unpainted band which is then surrounded by a spiral filled with fine black lines.  On the opposite end of the black spiral are two elements of steps, each encompassing a black dot in the unpainted triangle.  This end of the spiral line continues to the rim of the bowl.  Large areas of the interior are filled with black fine lines.

On the exterior of the bowl, zigzag white lines, approximately ¼-inch thick in a maze pattern, extend around the circumference for the upper half of the vessel wall.  These white lines, connected to a lower framing line, form a single continuous unbroken line.

Condition: the bowl has been broken and glued but no over-paint was executed to conceal the line breaks.

Provenance: from a gentleman in Albuquerque

Recommended Reading: Beauty from the Earth by J. J. Brody