Arroh-ah-och, Laguna Pueblo Potter

Arroh-ah-och (c. 1830-c. 1900): A Pioneering Laguna Pueblo Potter

An enigmatic yet profoundly significant figure in Pueblo pottery history, Arroh-ah-och (c. 1830-c. 1900) may have paved the way for artistic innovation a generation before Nampeyo and two before Maria Martinez. Known as "the Laguna Man-Woman," she was a revered "two-spirit" or "third-gender" individual whose exceptional reputation as a potter is primarily built upon the stylistic analysis of a single, extraordinary vessel, though [few] large ollas have been attributed to her.

Arroh-ah-och presence reflects a recognized cultural role; in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, la'manas (or lhamanas-men-women) were known and respected across various pueblos, including Acoma, Tesuque, and Zuni, communities which Arroh-A-Och [Arroh-ah-och] visited. Her artistry offers a rare glimpse into the rich diversity of Pueblo cultural and artistic expression during a pivotal historical period.

Source: Maxwell Museum of Anthropology

Discover the Legacy of Arroh-ah-och 

Delve deeper into the story of this exceptional potter with Max Early's compelling explanation, "The Paragon of Arroh-a-och." This insightful piece is proudly featured in the acclaimed traveling exhibition, "Grounded in Clay," currently on view at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

TAGS: Southwest Indian Pottery, Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, Tesuque Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, Maria Martinez

Note: there are several references for the spelling of this amazing pottery from Laguna Pueblo.  We are using Arroh-ah-och and not Arroh-A-Och as used in the above two references.

Our Reference: Dillingham, Rick. "Acoma & Laguna Pottery", School of American Research Press, Santa Fe, 1992