Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2011 School for Advanced Research.
Water jar
Date: c. 1900
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 27.9 × 31.8 cm (11 × 12 1/2 in.)
Weight: 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1926.
Place Made:
Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.646
Not on view
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 17-19, 2016 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo, Review 5”): This interior of this jar has water marks indicating it was used as a water jar. There are also some faint pattern transfers on the interior from broken sherds falling during the firing. Large pottery sherds are used during the firing to cover and protect raw pottery as it cooks. The fluted rim style is unusual for a water jar shape, especially one that is well used. This jar probably sat next to a wall as there is wear on one side of the shoulder and deposit minerals (water marks) on the opposite side. There is also some slip loss around the base.
The design on the body repeats three times. The three-lobed motifs are representative of clouds and the checkerboards are cornfields. The design overall has a lot of cloud and rain imagery. There is a line break at the lower framing line.
According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): The shape of a water jar is characterized by usually having a concave base (can also have a flat base) leading to a wider body and shoulder area. The shoulder, which is typically rounded but can also be sharp, leads inward and up to the neck and opening of the water jar. Historic water jars will sometimes have an indentation from the base the pot was built on (also known as a puki).
Water jars of all sizes are made and used. Medium to small size water jars are more commonly used to carry water as the weight of a filled water jar can become quite heavy. Large sized water jars would be used for storing water. Today at Acoma, water jars are still being used and made in both traditional natural and commercial materials.
In Collection(s)
The Indian Arts Research Center, in collaboration with Native American community scholars, strives to present accurate collections records. Records may be updated as new information becomes available and is reviewed with the Native American community having cultural affinity to particular items. Please write to iarc@sarsf.org if you have questions or concerns related to the documentation.