Historic Zia Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Water Jar

The Enigmatic Beauty of the Zia Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Water Jar

The Zia Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Water Jar, a relic from the past, captivates with its intricate stepped design. At first glance, one might draw parallels with the Santa Ana Pueblo Eiffel Tower design element. However, this particular motif is a hallmark of Zia jars crafted during the 1890 to 1920 periods. The influence of Zia's neighbors at Santa Ana Pueblo on this design remains a mystery.

The jar's distinguishing feature is a red band beneath the design area, a characteristic indicative of the circa 1900 era, give or take a decade. The design, applied seamlessly from the lower framing lines to the rim without any horizontal divisions, deviates slightly from the typical Zia pottery style, yet it is not entirely unprecedented.

The design's primary element is the stepped red pattern, accentuated with black outlines. The black stems adorned with orange buds at their ends could possibly represent vines. Positioned horizontally just above the stepped element are stems with berries at their ends, suggesting a floral motif. The red bubbles at the tips of the black elements along the rim are commonly interpreted as leaves. Thus, the overall design seems to embody a vegetal or floral concept, with the exception of the stepped elements.

In the book "The Pottery of Zia Pueblo" by Harlow and Lanmon, similar stepped elements are identified as feathers, hinting at a potential interpretation for this jar's design. The design stands out as striking and refreshing, diverging from many conventional designs of the period.

Condition: very good

Provenance: this Historic Zia Pueblo Polychrome Pottery Water Jar is from the collection of a gentleman from Washington, DC

Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Harlow and Lanmon

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Zia Pueblo, Historic Pottery