Zuni Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Pitcher with Handles

This pottery pitcher was made by a Zuni Pueblo artist. We believe that it dates to around 1920. We have seen many inventive forms from Zuni potters, but nothing quite like this one has made its way to us previously. It's a pitcher with a round base, a wide neck, and a pair of handles. The rim curves inward and outward repeatedly, forming multiple spouts from which one could pour liquid. It leans just a hair to one side, which somehow suits the look of the vessel. One might see an abstract owl figure in this form, with the handles representing wings and the front spout representing a beak.

Painted designs appear in black and red over the white-slipped exterior. Tadpoles and dragonflies circle the rim, above the curved red forms that appear at the midbody. Down below, the more common heartline deer appears, though the potter did personalize the design by alternating between black and red pigments. A band of triangular elements appears beneath the feet of the heartline deer. The figure-heavy composition feels appropriately lively and spirited, which suits the nature of the unique vessel on which it is painted.

Condition: good condition with a few spots of crude black overpaint, most noticeably over a small rim chip and one of the deer's antlers

Provenance: this Zuni Pueblo Historic Polychrome Pottery Pitcher with Handles is from the collection of a client of the gallery

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

TAGS: Pueblo Pottery, Zuni Pueblo, Historic Pottery