Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Polished Jar with Fluted Rim [SOLD]

Those who appreciate the beauty of unadorned Ohkay Owingeh pottery will find much to admire about this jar. It was made by Anacita Salazar, whose Tewa name is Than Povi.  She also signs her creations with this name.

The vessel form is a classic Tewa shape, which has been used for centuries and adapted to fit the evolving market—earlier functional examples were larger and usually displayed less embellishment at the rim. This piece, which was made for display rather than use, offers an elegant example of its ancestral Tewa form.

The jar's tan micaceous clay is consistently beautiful in tone and texture. Salazar treated the exterior and the entirety of the interior with a smooth stone polish, enhancing the beauty of the softly sparkling clay. There are no painted or carved designs, and none are needed. This is a beautiful example of twentieth century Ohkay Owingeh pottery.

Anacita Salazar was born in 1931. Adobe Gallery is unable to find much in the way of biographical information, so we are not sure if she is still alive and working. Salazar is the daughter of Geronima Abeyta and the mother of Tom Povi. The excellent work that went into the creation of this jar suggests that Salazar was as talented as any of her better-known contemporaries.

Condition: excellent condition

Provenance: this Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Polished Jar with Fluted Rim is from a private collection

Recommended Reading: All That Glitters: The Emergence of Native American Micaceous Art Pottery in Northern New Mexico by Duane Anderson

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Ohkay Owingeh, San Juan Pueblo, Anacita Salazar