San Juan Pueblo Polychrome Jar made into a Lamp with Shade

Historic San Juan Pueblo Revival Jar (Ohkay Owingeh)

This vessel is a magnificent example of the San Juan Pueblo Revival style, a creative movement that began in the mid-1930s. At that time, potters at San Juan Pueblo (now Ohkay Owingeh) sought to innovate by introducing decorated pottery that would appeal to the growing collector market, moving beyond the unpainted plainware that had been traditional to the pueblo for centuries.

The jar features a striking three-part composition that showcases the technical skill of the potter. The upper and lower sections of the jar are finished in a deep, stone-polished red slip, left elegantly unadorned to highlight the natural beauty of the clay. The central band is the focal point, featuring a wonderful arrangement of designs on a tan background. These elements are rendered in red and white, meticulously outlined in white for a crisp, graphic effect. The motifs are deeply symbolic of life in the high desert, representing rain clouds, rainbows, and lightning — prayers for moisture and a successful harvest.

A significant fire cloud overlays a section of the tan background. This natural "smudge" occurs when fuel touches the vessel during a traditional outdoor firing, providing undeniable evidence of the jar's authentic, handmade origin.

At some point in its history, likely between the 1960s and 1980s, this jar was converted into a substantial electric lamp. This was a common practice during that era for collectors who wished to integrate functional Southwestern art into their homes. A small hole was drilled near the base to accommodate an electric cord. Typically, lamps of this period were paired with hand-stitched cowhide shades to complete the rustic, Western aesthetic. The lamp is exceptionally heavy, as the jar was likely filled with sand to ensure it remained a stable and secure base.

While the jar has been modified for use as a lamp, it remains a powerful example of 20th-century Pueblo ceramic history. The quality of the incised and painted work on the tan band is of a very high caliber.

The San Juan (Ohkay Owingeh) Pottery Revival

For centuries, the potters of San Juan Pueblo were known for their elegant incised redware and blackware, which was typically unpainted and relied on the beauty of polished surfaces. However, by the early 1930s, San Juan pottery was struggling to compete commercially with the famous painted wares of neighboring San Ildefonso and Santa Clara.

The Catalyst: In 1930, Regina Cata, a Spanish woman who had married into the pueblo, organized a group of seven potters to revitalize their craft. The group studied ancient potsherds found at the nearby 15th-century ancestral site of Poshuouinge. These ancient shards featured beautiful incised designs and multiple colors. This led to the "Revival" style seen in this jar — a mixture of the traditional polished red slip with a central band of matte tan clay decorated with red and white pigments.

This movement was remarkably successful. It not only saved the pottery tradition at San Juan from disappearing but also created a distinct, recognizable brand that is still celebrated today. This jar is a direct descendant of that 1930s innovation.

During the mid-century period (1950s-1980s) when many Pueblo jars were converted into lamps, the standard pairing was a natural rawhide or cowhide shade. These shades are prized for the warm, amber glow they cast when the lamp is lit.

Condition: good condition with minor abrasions

Provenance: this San Juan Pueblo Polychrome Jar made into a Lamp with Shade is from the estate of a Santa Fe resident

Recommended Reading: For additional explanation of the San Juan Revival Period, see Pueblo Pottery of the New Mexico Indians, by Betty Toulouse. 1977. Museum of New Mexico Press

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, San Juan Pueblo