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View 1. Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Storage jar

View 1.
Photograph by Addison Doty. Copyright 2014 School for Advanced Research.

Storage jar

Date: c. 1740
Artist or Maker: Unknown
Dimensions:
Dimensions: 29.2 × 36.9 cm (11 1/2 × 14 1/2 in.)
Weight: 2.9 kg (6.35 lb.)
Medium: clay | paints
Credit Line: Indian Arts Fund purchase for the permanent collection, 1928.
Place Made:
Valencia, Cibola, Bernalillo, and Sandoval Counties, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America
Object Number: IAF.1032
Not on view
DescriptionAko or Tecolote polychrome storage jar. Characteristic domed top and concave base. Red sand-tempered clay with orange upperbody slip and deep red basal slip. Paneled split-feather design in sintered paint.
Tribal Collection Review RemarksAccording to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit May 11-13, 2016 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 6”): There is no evidence that this jar was used as a water jar. It was likely used as a storage jar. The red slip is highly polished and there are four (4) design panels that are repeated. There is a pottery sherd/pitch patch. There are line breaks in both lower framing lines and also a break at the top between two design panels.

The children of Gladys Chavez (seller of this jar), Regina Vicente and Harold Chino, are still living. Regina is a potter.

According to the participants in the Acoma collection review visit February 26-27, 2019 (Events Record “Collection Review: Acoma Pueblo Review 12”): Storage jars are constructed with thicker walls than water jars in order to support their size and the weight of the contents they would carry. The base of a storage jar is either round or flat. Storage jars were likely stored in cool places and stored items such as dried meats, crops from the garden, and other goods.

Storage jars are no longer being used or made at Acoma today. Jars that are made today that are comparable in size to that of a storage jar are usually made for sale and not for use.
In Collection(s)
Bibliography:
Historic Pottery of the Pueblo Indians, 1600-1800
  • Pg. between 128 and 129
  • Fig. Plate XIX
Matte-Paint Pottery of the Tewa, Keres and Zuni Pueblos
  • Pg. 240 (text); 241 (photograph)
  • Fig. Plate 27, a
Lucy M. Lewis
  • Pg. 111
  • Fig. Plate 127
Acoma and Laguna Pottery
  • Pg. p. 29, 211
  • Fig. 2.5
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.