Zia Pueblo Polychrome Dough Bowl, circa 1880 [SOLD]

It is always fascinating to acquire an object that has a continuous stream of provenance from its earliest days.  That is the case with this wonderful Zia Pueblo bowl.  Not only is the bowl an exquisite one, it has great provenance.

The bowl was among a large collection of Native American art objects presented to the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1937 as a gift from Miss Amelia E. White of Santa Fe.  According to an announcement by the Museum "The gift comes from Miss Amelia Elizabeth White, who has long been interested in the welfare of the American Indian.  Miss White was a moving spirit in the organization of The Exposition of Indian Tribal Arts in 1930, and was Chairman of its Executive Committee.  By acquiring fine examples of Indian art and by maintaining a gallery for their exhibition and sale in New York, Miss White continued the purpose of this exposition, namely, ' . . . of stimulating and supporting Indian artists by creating a wider interest and more intelligent appreciation of their work . . . and to demonstrate what important contribution to our culture the Indian is making.'  She furthered this purpose still more by dispersing her large collection among museums in order that a larger number of people might become acquainted with Indian products."

The Amelia White home and extensive property in Santa Fe became the grounds and buildings of the School for Advanced Research.  When this bowl was put up for sale at Sotheby's in New York in its May 18, 2007 auction, a member of the Board of Directors of the School for Advanced Research purchased it for her own collection because she was drawn to the Amelia White provenance.  This person eventually consigned the bowl to a Santa Fe Gallery to be sold. A client of ours purchased it at that time and now we have acquired it from this client.   It appears that at some unknown date, the Cleveland Museum de-accessioned the bowl and Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, added it to its collection.  The Albright-Knox Gallery submitted it to Sotheby's for sale, thus eventually bringing the bowl back to Santa Fe.

There are old stickers on the bowl that state "Zia Pueblo Zuni" and "Zia 19th Cent. Albright Art Gallery, Buffalo, N.Y."  The Albright-Knox Art Gallery number is 37:12:19, gift of Miss Amelia E. White, 1937.

Condition:  The bowl is in excellent condition.  There is one very minor interior-rim chip of no great significance.

Provenance: 

- Miss Amelia Elizabeth White, Santa Fe, NM

- Cleveland Museum of Art

- Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY

- Sotheby's May 18, 2007 Auction

- ex.coll. Dallas and Santa Fe resident

- ex.coll. Washington, DC collectors

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