Zuni Pueblo Double Chamber Historic Pottery Vessel

This Zuni double-chamber pottery vessel is a striking and enigmatic example of historic Pueblo craftsmanship. The vessel displays both functional ingenuity and symbolic design. The rims and interior lips of both chambers are painted, a detail that adds to the overall refinement of the piece.

One chamber features stylized motifs that resemble either moths or dragonflies, creatures often associated with water, transformation, and the natural world. The opposing chamber presents a composition of hatched and dotted abstract forms. The contrast between the two designs invites deeper interpretation, possibly representing a dialogue between the visible, natural world and a more spiritual or abstract dimension.

Zuni double-chamber vessels like this are relatively rare and are thought to have had ceremonial, symbolic, or teaching purposes rather than utilitarian functions. Their form may have referenced duality, such as day and night, earth and sky, or body and spirit, reflecting broader themes in Zuni cosmology. The careful balance and integration of form and design in this vessel reveal the potter's skill and the layered meanings embedded in Pueblo art.

Condition: very good condition

Provenance: this Zuni Pueblo Double Chamber Historic Pottery Vessel is from the collection of a client of Adobe Gallery.

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

TAGS: Pueblo Pottery, Zuni Pueblo, old pottery