Rick Dillingham Globular Jar with Long Spout and Lid, 1976 [SOLD]

This striking globular jar with a long spout exemplifies Rick Dillingham's deep respect for traditional Pueblo pottery techniques and his emerging voice as an innovative ceramic artist. Hand-coiled and stone-polished, the vessel features a warm, organic surface achieved through pit firing, with natural fireclouds adding depth and character. The form is both sculptural and functional, its rounded body balanced by a slender, gracefully extended spout.

A distinctive three-pronged lid, designed to nest securely into the vessel's opening, reflects Dillingham's thoughtful engineering and evolving technical mastery. This clever design element hints at the inventive sensibility he would continue to refine throughout his career. The piece is signed and dated "Feb/76-16," created during a period when Dillingham was actively exploring the tactile and structural possibilities of clay.

Dillingham (1952-1994) chose to build his pots using the traditional Pueblo coil method rather than a potter's wheel — an intentional choice rooted in his deep love and reverence for Native pottery. His vessels were meant to be experienced physically, not just visually; they invite touch, their curves and textures demanding quiet contemplation. This jar is a beautiful example of his early work, where tradition and innovation converge in a vessel that is as sensuous as it is skillfully made.

Condition: original condition

Provenance: This Rick Dillingham Globular Jar with Long Spout and Lid, 1976, is from a Santa Fe collector.

Recommended Reading: Dillingham ‘90 RICK DILLINGHAM August 10-September 5, 1990. Exhibit and Catalog by Linda Durham Gallery, Santa Fe

TAGS: Santa Fe, Pueblo Pottery, Rick Dillingham