Zia Pueblo Polychrome Circular Pottery Tile [SOLD]

Artistry Amidst Adversity: The Zia Pueblo Pottery Tile of the 1940s

This pottery tile, crafted by an anonymous Zia Pueblo potter, is believed to originate from the early 1940s. The emergence of tourism in the Southwest prompted potters from Zia and other pueblos to create small, transportable objects. While this tourist market provided a valuable income source, it did not deter these artisans from continuing to produce utilitarian wares for their personal use.

The tile, representative in size and design of many pieces created for tourists, features a vibrant brick-red Zia bird at its center. To enhance the bird motif, the potter incorporated three rain clouds, suspended from the tile's rim. Additionally, a pair of drilled holes allows for the attachment of a string or leather strip, enabling the tile to be hung for display.

Condition: very good condition with a dark patina.

Provenance: this Zia Pueblo Polychrome Circular Pottery Tile is from the collection of a former client of Adobe Gallery

Reference and Recommended Reading: The Pottery of Zia Pueblo by Francis H. Harlow & Dwight P. Lanmon, SAR Press, Santa Fe, 2003.

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Zia Pueblo, Historic Pottery