San Ildefonso Tall Polychrome Lidded Vase by Blue Corn [SOLD]

The current owner of this polychrome vase with a polished black lid purchased it from Blue Corn at a gallery exhibit years ago.  At the time, Blue Corn told the purchaser that this was the first, and would be the last, lidded jar she made. Why Crucita Gonzales Calabaza (1921-1999) Blue Corn would express such an opinion is unknown as providing for a lid should not be that much more difficult than making a jar without a lid.  Also, one wonders why Blue Corn made a polished black lid for a Polychrome jar. Perhaps she felt the two would be complementary, and I agree that they are.

This tall vase is an excellent display of Blue Corn's masterful layout of a traditional eagle feather design. Each element of design was executed by outlining the intended design with black pigment. The feather tips were executed in light orange color. Two bands of design around the neck were also outlined in black pigment, then filled in with a deeper orange slip.  

Both the lid and vase were signed Blue Corn San Ildefonso Pueblo on their underside.

Condition:  this San Ildefonso Tall Polychrome Lidded Vase by Blue Corn is in excellent condition

Provenance: from the Southwest Indian Pottery collection of the original purchaser from Colorado who purchased it directly from Blue Corn

Recommended Reading:  Pueblo Indian Pottery: 750 Artist Biographies by Gregory Schaaf

Credit: Artist photograph of Blue Corn (Crucita Gonzales Calabaza) courtesy of Garry and Susan Zens. All images Copyright Adobe Gallery, all rights reserved.