Santo Domingo Very Large Wedding Vessel [SOLD]

This wedding vessel was not signed by the potter at the time it was completed, so there is no definitive way to determine its maker.  In his book on pueblo pottery, Jonathan Batkin commented on a very similar design on a jar: “Variations of the motif on this jar are common on early twentieth-century ollas.  In his unpublished notes, Kenneth Chapman recorded that this design was invented by a potter, surname Garcia, between 1905 and 1910.” Batkin 1987, p105

The design on this wedding vessel is a variation of the one commented on by Batkin.  It is not likely that this wedding vessel dates to 1905-1910, but likely dates to circa 1940.

Having seen many pottery vessels made by Monica Silva, it is easy to say that she could have made this wedding vessel.  The vessel is oversize, much like Silva routinely made in jars.  The very bold black pigment is strongly like her painted designs.  She would have been about 40 years old when this was made, an age when she could easily have handled such a large vessel.

As stated before on our site, not knowing the maker of a vessel does not diminish its value or beauty.  There were many potters in the first half of the 20th century who did not sign their wares.  Each vessel, however, must be appreciated for its fineness and beauty and each should be treated as a national treasure because that is the nature of their existence.

Condition: a very minor chip exists on the rim and a few minor scratches exist on the body of the vessel.

Provenance: this Santo Domingo Very Large Wedding Vessel was delivered by a gentleman in Santa Fe last month

Reference: Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940 by Jonathan Batkin