Tesuque Pueblo Historic Deep Serving Bowl with Interior Design [SOLD]

This extraordinarily fine Tesuque serving bowl follows the pueblo's traditions in every aspect of materials, construction, and design. The interior of the bowl is decorated in black pigment over the traditional cream-colored slip. The exterior is without decoration, except for a wide red band wiped onto the surface just below the rim. The natural clay exterior of the bowl was stone polished.

The interior design of this piece consists of dark black rain clouds encircling the bowl just below the framing line near the rim. The rim is painted black. Four pairs of lines made of triangular forms travel inward from below the rain clouds to the center. An additional element appears in the center, and a bit of wear from use obscures the elements' intersection.

The interior of the bowl has developed a beautiful, dark and rich patina from years and years of use at the pueblo prior to being on the market for sale. It is the richest patina we've ever seen on a serving bowl.

A printed paper label attached to the bowl reads as follows:

Guaranteed Handmade at
SANTO DOMINGO
Indian Pueblo, New Mexico
SOUTHWEST ARTS
AND CRAFTS
Santa Fe. New Mexico
Price.......

While the label reads "Santo Domingo," we believe that the coloration and design suggest Tesuque. It is not uncommon to see historic pieces that were incorrectly labeled at some point, and we leave the labels intact, as they become part of the history of the piece.

Condition: Good condition with vertical crack stabilized. Small interior rim chip. Beautiful warm patina from decades of use.

Provenance: this Tesuque Pueblo Historic Deep Serving Bowl with Interior Design is from a  private Santa Fe collection

Recommended Reading: Batkin, Jonathan. Pottery of the Pueblos of New Mexico 1700-1940, 1987.

TAGS: Historic Pottery, Tesuque Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo