San Ildefonso Pueblo Historic Polychrome Jar circa 1910

This San Ildefonso polychrome jar, made around 1910, is a beautiful example of early Pueblo pottery during a time of revival and change. The shape reflects an 18th-century style that became popular again between 1905 and 1915. It rises from a small base, expands into a rounded body, and curves inward to a low shoulder, leading to a tall, graceful neck with a flared lip.

The jar features a polished natural clay on the underbody over which is a narrow red clay band that was beautifully stone polished. The rim is finished in red, a detail commonly seen before 1910, when black slip became more widely used. The bottom third of the jar is left undecorated, as is traditional. The interior of the jar appears to have been rag wiped rather than stone polished.

The surface of the jar is covered in a soft, white slip that appears to be the rag-wiped Cochiti bentonite slip. This type of slip was introduced to San Ildefonso in the early 1900s by Martina Vigil and Florentino Montoya and does not require stone polishing — another clue to the jar's date.

The painted design flows smoothly around the jar, creating a sense of movement. The decoration is framed by consistent double lines with no ceremonial breaks, giving it a unified, continuous look. Around the neck, a bold pattern of circular petal shapes symbolizes natural growth and life.

The decorations on the widest part of the jar features black-outlined red semicircular shapes, all of which are suspended from the mid-body framing line. Rising from the lower framing line is a series of black forms in a wave pattern.

This jar reflects the creativity and skill of San Ildefonso potters during a period of renewed interest in traditional forms and materials.

Condition: Very good condition with a single short vertical neck crack that remains unrepaired, but does not affect the visual integrity of the jar.

Provenance: This San Ildefonso Pueblo Historic Polychrome Jar circa 1910 was originally purchased from Adobe Gallery in 1998 and now is being offered through the estate of an Adobe Gallery client.

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

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