San Juan Black-over-gray Jar with Handles

This San Juan Black-over-gray small jar from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, dating to around 1910-1920, is a remarkable example of utilitarian pottery shaped with artistic refinement. The vessel's rounded body tapers smoothly to a small base, while the neck emerges just above the shoulder and rises to a delicately scalloped rim. The form balances practical design with a clear attention to visual detail. The pair of handles hints at this being a bean pot vessel shape.

The upper three-quarters of the jar are covered in a highly polished black slip, creating a deep, lustrous surface that catches light beautifully. The lower portion remains unslipped, allowing the natural gray tone of the clay to emerge through the firing process. In one area of the shoulder, the jar reveals a more highly polished surface than the remainder of the jar. giving the piece added depth and variation. Distinct areas of copper color mark the base, further enhancing its visual character and connecting it to traditional outdoor firing methods.

The pair of handles is typical of vessels destined for use for cooking on a stove top. This jar was not intended for use and does not appear to have been used. There is a partial paper label affixed to the jar just below the rim. Based on standard vintage collection labels from the region, the complete text on the primary paper label reads:

​From

San Juan Pueblo Indians,

Rio Grande River,

NEW MEXICO.

There is an overlapping label but it has been blurred out and the prior writing cannot be determined. Labels of this sort are typical of those placed by early merchants as price tags.

The interior has been blackened with a clay slip, typical of jars intended for storage or daily use. Compared to pre-1900 examples from Ohkay Owingeh, which often lacked high polish, this piece stands out for its sheen and finish. The combination of form, surface, and patina makes this an exceptional example of early 20th-century Pueblo pottery.

Condition: very good condition with clear evidence of age

Provenance: this San Juan Black-over-gray Jar with Handles is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery

Recommended Reading: Two Hundred Years of Historic Pueblo Pottery: The Gallegos Collection by Francis H. Harlow