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Water jar

Date: 1900-1910

Artist or Maker: Unknown

Dimensions:

Dimensions: 29.8 × 26.8 cm (11 3/4 × 10 9/16 in.)

Weight: 1.9 kg (4.2 lb.)

Medium: clay | paints

Credit Line: Bequest of James Richard (Rick) Dillingham, II; received at IARC in 1994.

Place Made:

Valencia County, New Mexico, Southwest, United States, North America

Object Number: SAR.1994-4-553

Not on view

DescriptionAcoma polychrome water jar; four-color; cream slip with black and red geometric designs. The design consists of a rainbow band variation in a zig-zag checkerboard style with orange checkerboards, triangles (clouds), and hatching (rain lines) filled star shapes inside it. Around the band are orange, black, and hatching filled tirangles and ed leaf motifs. Red base and interior rim. Tall necked form. Fire cloud on side of base

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 a line break in the bottom lines. The participants believe that the checkered zigzag band is probably a variation of a rainbow band or the Milky Way. There are star shapes at the bottom and top of the zigzag.

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)

Acoma Collection

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.